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Brown ER, Gettler LT, Rosenbaum S. Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22491. [PMID: 38698633 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity is particularly important for humans and other primates because of our extended period of growth and maturation, during which our phenotypes adaptively respond to environmental cues. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes are likely to be principal targets of developmental "programming" given their roles in coordinating fitness-relevant aspects of the phenotype, including sexual development, adult reproductive and social strategies, and internal responses to the external environment. In social animals, including humans, the social environment is believed to be an important source of cues to which these axes may adaptively respond. The effects of early social environments on the HPA axis have been widely studied in humans, and to some extent, in other primates, but there are still major gaps in knowledge specifically relating to males. There has also been relatively little research examining the role that social environments play in developmental programming of the HPG axis or the HPA/HPG interface, and what does exist disproportionately focuses on females. These topics are likely understudied in males in part due to the difficulty of identifying developmental milestones in males relative to females and the general quiescence of the HPG axis prior to maturation. However, there are clear indicators that early life social environments matter for both sexes. In this review, we examine what is known about the impact of social environments on HPG and HPA axis programming during male development in humans and nonhuman primates, including the role that epigenetic mechanisms may play in this programming. We conclude by highlighting important next steps in this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella R Brown
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lee T Gettler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Stacy Rosenbaum
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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2
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Jiang JH, Wang YF, Zheng J, Lei YM, Chen ZY, Guo Y, Guo YJ, Guo BQ, Lv YF, Wang HH, Xie JJ, Liu YX, Jin TW, Li BQ, Zhu XS, Jiang YH, Mo ZN. Human-like adrenal features in Chinese tree shrews revealed by multi-omics analysis of adrenal cell populations and steroid synthesis. Zool Res 2024; 45:617-632. [PMID: 38766745 PMCID: PMC11188597 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Chinese tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri chinensis) has emerged as a promising model for investigating adrenal steroid synthesis, but it is unclear whether the same cells produce steroid hormones and whether their production is regulated in the same way as in humans. Here, we comprehensively mapped the cell types and pathways of steroid metabolism in the adrenal gland of Chinese tree shrews using single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptome analysis, mass spectrometry, and immunohistochemistry. We compared the transcriptomes of various adrenal cell types across tree shrews, humans, macaques, and mice. Results showed that tree shrew adrenal glands expressed many of the same key enzymes for steroid synthesis as humans, including CYP11B2, CYP11B1, CYB5A, and CHGA. Biochemical analysis confirmed the production of aldosterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone but not dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the tree shrew adrenal glands. Furthermore, genes in adrenal cell types in tree shrews were correlated with genetic risk factors for polycystic ovary syndrome, primary aldosteronism, hypertension, and related disorders in humans based on genome-wide association studies. Overall, this study suggests that the adrenal glands of Chinese tree shrews may consist of closely related cell populations with functional similarity to those of the human adrenal gland. Our comprehensive results (publicly available at http://gxmujyzmolab.cn:16245/scAGMap/) should facilitate the advancement of this animal model for the investigation of adrenal gland disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Hang Jiang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Jingmen People's Hospital, JingChu University of Technology Affiliated Central Hospital, Jingmen, Hubei 448000, China
| | - Yi-Fu Wang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi-Ming Lei
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, Guangxi 537000, China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Chen
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ya-Jie Guo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Bing-Qian Guo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yu-Fang Lv
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Hong-Hong Wang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Juan-Juan Xie
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Liu
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ting-Wei Jin
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Bi-Qi Li
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China
| | - Xiao-Shu Zhu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, Guangxi 537000, China. E-mail:
| | - Yong-Hua Jiang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China. E-mail:
| | - Zeng-Nan Mo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China. E-mail:
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3
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Mouri K, Shimizu K. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in excreta is a good indicator of serum DHEAS in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 338:114277. [PMID: 36965641 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
We developed a microplate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to measure dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in the blood, urine, and feces of Japanese macaques and evaluated the relationship between serum DHEAS and excreta DHEAS. Our DHEAS EIA using heterological DHEA derivatives conjugated with enzyme was highly sensitive, and linearities and recoveries for all matrices of Japanese macaques were reliable. For the biological evaluation of the metabolism of DHEAS in Japanese macaques, dissolved DHEAS was injected into the subjects, and consecutively collected serum, urine, and fecal samples were analyzed. The peaks of serum DHEAS were observed 6 h after the administration, while those of urine and feces were observed after 24 h. The fluctuation of those in urine and feces were significantly correlated with serum DHEAS levels. In addition, we measured pregnanediol-glucuronide (PdG), and estrone-conjugate (E1C) in urine and fecal samples to investigate the effects of administrated DHEAS on these progesterone and estrogen metabolites. The peak of PdG was observed 24 h after administration, then declined sharply. The concentration of E1C increased 1 week after administration in two out of three subjects. Our results suggest that measuring urinary and fecal DHEAS with our EIA provides a non-invasive alternative to assessing DHEAS levels in the serum of Japanese macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Mouri
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Keiko Shimizu
- Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science, 1-1, Ridai-Cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-0005, Japan.
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Takeshita RS, Edler MK, Meindl RS, Sherwood CC, Hopkins WD, Raghanti MA. Age, adrenal steroids, and cognitive functioning in captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes). PeerJ 2022; 10:e14323. [PMID: 36389417 PMCID: PMC9653054 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate is the most abundant circulating androgen in humans and other catarrhines. It is involved in several biological functions, such as testosterone production, glucocorticoid antagonist actions, neurogenesis and neuroplasticty. Although the role of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) in cognition remains elusive, the DHEAS/cortisol ratio has been positively associated with a slower cognitive age-decline and improved mood in humans. Whether this relationship is found in nonhuman primates remains unknown. Methods We measured DHEAS and cortisol levels in serum of 107 adult chimpanzees to investigate the relationship between DHEAS levels and age. A subset of 21 chimpanzees was used to test the potential associations between DHEAS, cortisol, and DHEAS/cortisol ratio in cognitive function, taking into account age, sex, and their interactions. We tested for cognitive function using the primate cognitive test battery (PCTB) and principal component analyses to categorize cognition into three components: spatial relationship tasks, tool use and social communication tasks, and auditory-visual sensory perception tasks. Results DHEAS levels, but not the DHEAS/cortisol ratio, declined with age in chimpanzees. Our analyses for spatial relationships tasks revealed a significant, positive correlation with the DHEAS/cortisol ratio. Tool use and social communication had a negative relationship with age. Our data show that the DHEAS/cortisol ratio, but not DHEAS individually, is a promising predictor of spatial cognition in chimpanzees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela S.C. Takeshita
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Melissa K. Edler
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Richard S. Meindl
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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5
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Sen S, Carrera SC, Heistermann M, Potter CB, Baniel A, DeLacey PM, Petrullo L, Lu A, Beehner JC. Social correlates of androgen levels and dispersal age in juvenile male geladas. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105264. [PMID: 36155910 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Androgens offer a window into the timing of important male life history events such as maturation. However, when males are the dispersing sex, piecing together normative androgen profiles across development is challenging because dispersing males are difficult to track. Here, we examined the conditions that may be associated with male androgen status (via fecal androgen metabolites, fAMs) and age at dispersal in wild male geladas (Theropithecus gelada). Gelada male life histories are highly variable - dispersal may occur before sexual maturation, dispersal itself can be immediate or drawn out, and, due to their multi-leveled society, social conditions affecting dispersal can vary for juveniles living in different reproductive units within the same band. Using longitudinal data from known natal males, we examined how androgen levels and age at dispersal were associated with: (1) access to maternal resources (i.e., maternal rank, birth of a younger sibling, experiencing maternal loss), and (2) access to male peers (i.e., number of similar-aged males in their unit). We found that androgens were significantly lower in males with high-ranking mothers (in males >2.5 years of age; infant androgens were unrelated) and that having more male peers in their social group and larger groups overall predicted an earlier age at dispersal. Moreover, dispersal in geladas was not preceded or followed by a surge in androgen levels. Taken together, results suggest that social environments can cause individual variation in androgens and dispersal age. Whether this variation leads to differences in male fitness in later life remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmi Sen
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA.
| | - Sofia C Carrera
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Caitlin Barale Potter
- Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Alice Baniel
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Patricia M DeLacey
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA
| | - Lauren Petrullo
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA
| | - Amy Lu
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364, USA
| | - Jacinta C Beehner
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107, USA
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6
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Edes AN, Zimmerman D, Jourdan B, Brown JL, Edwards KL. Value Ranges and Clinical Comparisons of Serum DHEA-S, IL-6, and TNF-α in Western Lowland Gorillas. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2705. [PMID: 36230446 PMCID: PMC9559573 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological data can provide valuable information about the health and welfare of animals. Unfortunately, few validated assays and a lack of information on species-typical levels of circulating biomarkers for wildlife make the measurement, interpretation, and practical application of such data difficult. We validated commercially available kits and calculated reference intervals (herein called "value ranges") for dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in a sample of zoo-housed western lowland gorillas due to the roles these biomarkers play in stress and immune responses. For each biomarker, we present species-specific value ranges for a sample of gorillas in human care (n = 57). DHEA-S did not vary significantly by sex or age, while IL-6 was higher in males and older gorillas and TNF-α was higher in females but not associated with age. We also compared non-clinical with clinical samples (n = 21) to explore whether these biomarkers reflect changes in health status. There was no significant difference between clinical and non-clinical samples for DHEA-S, but both IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in gorillas showing clinical symptoms or prior to death. Additional work is needed to improve our understanding of normal versus clinical variation in these biomarkers, and we encourage continued efforts to identify and validate additional biomarkers that can be used to inform assessments of health and welfare in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N. Edes
- Department of Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Dawn Zimmerman
- Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
- Smithsonian Global Health Program, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Balbine Jourdan
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Janine L. Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Katie L. Edwards
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester CH2 1LH, UK
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7
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Greenberg D, Snyder KP, Filazzola A, Mastromonaco GF, Schoof VAM. Hormonal correlates of male dominance rank, age, and genital colouration in vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 316:113948. [PMID: 34826430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Primates are the most colourful members of the Mammalian clade. In vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), males are characterized by their red penis and blue scrotum. Such colour signals are often used in conspecific communication, and thus could be used to convey signaller condition. We quantified scrotal and penile colour characteristics using digital photographs between May-June 2016 from males in two neighboring groups along the shores of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. We examined the relationship between fecal hormones, male dominance rank, age (adult vs. immature), and colour. Adult males were higher ranking than immatures, but there were no rank or age differences in fecal hormone levels. Glucocorticoids and androgens were positively correlated in immature, but not adult males. All scrotal characteristics were predicted by age, with adult males having more teal (i.e., less blue, more green) and more luminant scrota. Within adult males, those with higher androgens levels had more saturated blue scrotal colouration and higher-ranking males were more luminant. Penile colouration was also associated with age and rank. High-ranking males had a more saturated red penis, and adult male penile colour was more luminant and bluer than in immature males. Our findings are consistent with previous reports that scrotal colouration advertises sexual or reproductive maturity (i.e., age), but we also find that within adult males, colour also advertises dominance rank and may be mediated by androgen levels. Penile colouration also appears to signal information about male age and dominance rank but does not appear to be mediated by hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Greenberg
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - K P Snyder
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - A Filazzola
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - V A M Schoof
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Bilingual Biology Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Glendon College, York University, 2275 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M6, Canada.
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8
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Validation of a Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Assay in Three Platyrrhine Primates (Alouatta caraya, Aotus azarae infulatus, and Sapajus apella). INT J PRIMATOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-021-00239-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Dumontet T, Martinez A. Adrenal androgens, adrenarche, and zona reticularis: A human affair? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 528:111239. [PMID: 33676986 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In humans, reticularis cells of the adrenal cortex fuel the production of androgen steroids, constituting the driver of numerous morphological changes during childhood. These steps are considered a precocious stage of sexual maturation and are grouped under the term "adrenarche". This review describes the molecular and enzymatic characteristics of the zona reticularis, along with the possible signals and mechanisms that control its emergence and the associated clinical features. We investigate the differences between species and discuss new studies such as genetic lineage tracing and transcriptomic analysis, highlighting the rodent inner cortex's cellular and molecular heterogeneity. The recent development and characterization of mouse models deficient for Prkar1a presenting with adrenocortical reticularis-like features prompt us to review our vision of the mouse adrenal gland maturation. We expect these new insights will help increase our understanding of the adrenarche process and the pathologies associated with its deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Typhanie Dumontet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Training Program in Organogenesis, Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Antoine Martinez
- Génétique, Reproduction et Développement (GReD), Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique CNRS, Institut National de La Santé & de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Clermont-Auvergne (UCA), France.
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10
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Sabbi KH, Emery Thompson M, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Wrangham RW, Muller MN. Sex differences in early experience and the development of aggression in wild chimpanzees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2017144118. [PMID: 33727418 PMCID: PMC8000022 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2017144118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in physical aggression occur across human cultures and are thought to be influenced by active sex role reinforcement. However, sex differences in aggression also exist in our close evolutionary relatives, chimpanzees, who do not engage in active teaching, but do exhibit long juvenile periods and complex social systems that allow differential experience to shape behavior. Here we ask whether early life exposure to aggression is sexually dimorphic in wild chimpanzees and, if so, whether other aspects of early sociality contribute to this difference. Using 13 y of all-occurrence aggression data collected from the Kanyawara community of chimpanzees (2005 to 2017), we determined that young male chimpanzees were victims of aggression more often than females by between 4 and 5 (i.e., early in juvenility). Combining long-term aggression data with data from a targeted study of social development (2015 to 2017), we found that two potential risk factors for aggression-time spent near adult males and time spent away from mothers-did not differ between young males and females. Instead, the major risk factor for receiving aggression was the amount of aggression that young chimpanzees displayed, which was higher for males than females throughout the juvenile period. In multivariate models, sex did not mediate this relationship, suggesting that other chimpanzees did not target young males specifically, but instead responded to individual behavior that differed by sex. Thus, social experience differed by sex even in the absence of explicit gender socialization, but experiential differences were shaped by early-emerging sex differences in behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris H Sabbi
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
| | - Melissa Emery Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Zarin P Machanda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Emily Otali
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Richard W Wrangham
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 87131
| | - Martin N Muller
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
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Epelbaum J, Terrien J. Mini-review: Aging of the neuroendocrine system: Insights from nonhuman primate models. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 100:109854. [PMID: 31891735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system (NES) plays a crucial role in synchronizing the physiology and behavior of the whole organism in response to environmental constraints. The NES consists of a hypothalamic-pituitary-target organ axis that acts in coordination to regulate growth, reproduction, stress and basal metabolism. The growth (or somatotropic), hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes are therefore finely tuned by the hypothalamus through the successive release of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones to control the downstream physiological functions. These functions rely on a complex set of mechanisms requiring tight synchronization between peripheral organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary complex, whose functionality can be altered during aging. Here, we review the results of research on the effects of aging on the NES of nonhuman primate (NHP) species in wild and captive conditions. A focus on the age-related dysregulation of the master circadian pacemaker, which, in turn, alters the synchronization of the NES with the organism environment, is proposed. Finally, practical and ethical considerations of using NHP models to test the effects of nutrition-based or hormonal treatments to combat the deterioration of the NES are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Epelbaum
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé 894 INSERM, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, 1 Avenue du Petit Château, 91800 Brunoy, France.
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12
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Bernstein RM, O'Connor GK, Vance EA, Affara N, Drammeh S, Dunger DB, Faal A, Ong KK, Sosseh F, Prentice AM, Moore SE. Timing of the Infancy-Childhood Growth Transition in Rural Gambia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:142. [PMID: 32265838 PMCID: PMC7105771 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Karlberg model of human growth describes the infancy, childhood, and puberty (ICP) stages as continuous and overlapping, and defined by transitions driven by sequential additional effects of several endocrine factors that shape the growth trajectory and resultant adult size. Previous research has suggested that a delayed transition from the infancy to the childhood growth stage contributes to sub-optimal growth outcomes. A new method developed to analyze the structure of centile crossing in early life has emerged as a potential tool for identifying the infancy-childhood transition (ICT), through quantifying patterns of adjacent monthly weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) deviation correlations. Using this method, the infancy-childhood transition was identified as taking place at around 12 months of age in two cohorts of UK infants. Here, we apply this method to data collected as part of a longitudinal growth study in rural Gambia [the Hormonal and Epigenetic Regulators of Growth, or HERO-G study, N = 212 (F = 99, M = 113)], in order to identify the ICT and assess whether timing of this transition differs across groups based on sex or birth seasonality. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients for adjacent monthly WAZ score deviations. Based on the patterns of change in the correlation structure over time, our results suggest that the infancy-childhood transition occurs at around 9 months of age in rural Gambian infants. This points to an accelerated ICT compared to UK infants, rather than a delayed ICT. A comparatively later transition, seen in UK infants, allows maximal extension of the high rates of growth during the infancy stage; an earlier transition as seen in Gambian infants cuts short this period of rapid growth, potentially impacting on growth outcomes in childhood while diverting energy into other processes critical to responses to acute infectious challenges. Growth in later developmental stages in this population offers an extended window for catch-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M. Bernstein
- Growth and Development Lab, Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - G. Kesler O'Connor
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA), Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Eric A. Vance
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA), Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nabeel Affara
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Saikou Drammeh
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - David B. Dunger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Abdoulie Faal
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Ken K. Ong
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fatou Sosseh
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Andrew M. Prentice
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Sophie E. Moore
- MRC Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Nyce JW. A lex naturalis delineates components of a human-specific, adrenal androgen-dependent, p53-mediated 'kill switch' tumor suppression mechanism. Endocr Relat Cancer 2020; 27:R51-R65. [PMID: 31815681 PMCID: PMC6993206 DOI: 10.1530/erc-19-0382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have recently described in this journal our detection of an anthropoid primate-specific, adrenal androgen-dependent, p53-mediated, 'kill switch' tumor suppression mechanism that reached its fullest expression only in humans, as a result of human-specific exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons caused by the harnessing of fire - but which has components reaching all the way back to the origin of the primate lineage. We proposed that species-specific mechanisms of tumor suppression are a generalized requirement for vertebrate species to increase in body size or lifespan beyond those of species basal to their lineage or to exploit environmental niches which increase exposure to carcinogenic substances. Using empirical dynamic modeling, we have also reported our detection of a relationship between body size, lifespan, and species-specific mechanism of tumor suppression (and here add carcinogen exposure), such that a change in any one of these variables requires an equilibrating change in one or more of the others in order to maintain lifetime cancer risk at a value of about 4%, as observed in virtually all larger, longer-lived species under natural conditions. Here we show how this relationship, which we refer to as the lex naturalis of vertebrate speciation, elucidates the evolutionary steps underlying an adrenal androgen-dependent, human-specific 'kill switch' tumor suppression mechanism; and further, how it prescribes a solution to 'normalize' lifetime cancer risk in our species from its current aberrant 40% to the 4% that characterized primitive humans. We further argue that this prescription writ by the lex naturalis represents the only tenable strategy for meaningful suppression of the accelerating impact of cancer upon our species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Wesley Nyce
- ACGT Biotechnology, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to J W Nyce:
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Abstract
Adrenarche, the post-natal rise of DHEA and DHEAS, is unique to humans and the African Apes. Recent findings have linked DHEA in humans to the development of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDPFC) between the ages of 4-8 years and the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) from 7 to 12 years of age. Given the association of the LDLPFC with the 5-to-8 transition and the rTPJ with mentalizing during middle childhood DHEA may have played an important role in the evolution of the human brain. I argue that increasing protein in the diet over the course of human evolution not only increased levels of DHEAS, but linked meat consumption with brain development during the important 5- to-8 transition. Consumption of animal protein has been associated with IGF-1, implicated in the development of the adrenal zona reticularis (ZR), the site of DHEAS production. In humans and chimps, the zona reticularis emerges at 3-4 years, along with the onset of DHEA/S production. For chimps this coincides with weaning and peak synaptogenesis. Among humans, weaning is completed around 2 ½ years, while synaptogenesis peaks around 5 years. Thus, in chimpanzees, early cortical maturation is tied to the mother; in humans it may be associated with post-weaning provisioning by others. I call for further research on adrenarche among the African apes as a critical comparison to humans. I also suggest research in subsistence populations to establish the role of nutrition and energetics in the timing of adrenarche and the onset of middle childhood.
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Sabbi KH, Muller MN, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Fox SA, Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. Human-like adrenal development in wild chimpanzees: A longitudinal study of urinary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and cortisol. Am J Primatol 2019; 82:e23064. [PMID: 31709585 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of the adrenal cortex varies considerably across primates, being most conspicuous in humans, where a functional zona reticularis-the site of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA/S) production-does not develop until middle childhood (5-8 years). Prior reports suggest that a human-like adrenarche, associated with a sharp prepubertal increase in DHEA/S, may only occur in the genus Pan. However, the timing and variability in adrenarche in chimpanzees remain poorly described, owing to the lack of longitudinal data, or data from wild populations. Here, we use urine samples from East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) collected over 20 years at Kanyawara in Kibale National Park, Uganda, to trace the developmental trajectories of DHEAS (n = 1,385 samples, 53 individuals) and cortisol (n = 12,726 samples, 68 individuals). We used generalized additive models (GAM) to investigate the relationship between age, sex, and hormone levels. Adrenarche began earlier in chimpanzees (~2-3 years) compared with what has been reported in humans (6-8 years) and, unlike humans, male and female chimpanzees did not differ significantly in the timing of adrenarche nor in DHEAS concentrations overall. Similar to what has been reported in humans, cortisol production decreased through early life, reaching a nadir around puberty (8-11 years), and a sex difference emerged with males exhibiting higher urinary cortisol levels compared with females by early adulthood (15-16 years). Our study establishes that wild chimpanzees exhibit a human-like pattern of cortisol production during development and corroborates prior reports from captive chimpanzees of a human-like adrenarche, accompanied by significant developmental increases in DHEAS. While the role of these developmental hormone shifts are as yet unclear, they have been implicated in stages of rapid behavioral development once thought unique to humans, especially in regard to explaining the divergence of female and male social behavior before pubertal increases in gonadal hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris H Sabbi
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Martin N Muller
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Zarin P Machanda
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Otali
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Stephanie A Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Richard W Wrangham
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa Emery Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
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16
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Developmental changes in the endocrine stress response in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). J Comp Physiol B 2019; 189:659-672. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-019-01235-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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17
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Greaves RF, Wudy SA, Badoer E, Zacharin M, Hirst JJ, Quinn T, Walker DW. A tale of two steroids: The importance of the androgens DHEA and DHEAS for early neurodevelopment. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 188:77-85. [PMID: 30557606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
DHEA and DHEAS are neuroactive neurosteroids that interact with several major receptor systems in the brain, including sigma (σ), glutamate, and GABA-A receptors. It has been recognized as early as 1952, that the loss of DHEA/DHEAS in adult life is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders (eg schizophrenia, depression). However, the mechanistic role for DHEA/DHEAS in any of these domains remains speculative, not the least because the presence of these androgens in the adrenal gland and brain is largely confined to humans and only some non-human primates. DHEA and DHEAS are dynamically regulated from before birth and before the onset of puberty, and therefore an understanding of the synthesis, regulation, and functions of this important androgen pathway warrants attention. Here, we draw attention to the possible modulating influence of DHEA/DHEAS in early brain development from fetal life to the remarkable increase of these steroids in early childhood - the adrenarche. We propose that the pre-pubertal DHEA/DHEAS surge plays a key role in modulating early brain development, perhaps by prolonging brain plasticity during childhood to allow the pre-adolescent brain to adapt and re-wire in response to new, and ever-changing social challenges. Nonetheless, the aetiology of neurodevelopmental phenomena in relation to DHEA/DHEAS synthesis and action cannot be easily studied in humans due to the obvious ethical restrictions on mechanistic studies, the uncertainty of predicting the future mental characteristics of individuals, and the difficulty of conducting retrospective investigations based on pre-birth and/or neonatal complications. We discuss new opportunities for animal studies to resolve these important questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronda F Greaves
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University - Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, 3083, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stefan A Wudy
- Steroid Research & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetology, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Emilio Badoer
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University - Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, 3083, Australia
| | - Margaret Zacharin
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan J Hirst
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Mothers and Babies Research Centre, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Tracey Quinn
- Merck Serono Australia Pty Ltd, Frenchs Forest, NSW, 2086, Australia
| | - David W Walker
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University - Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, 3083, Australia.
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18
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Nyce JW. Detection of a novel, primate-specific 'kill switch' tumor suppression mechanism that may fundamentally control cancer risk in humans: an unexpected twist in the basic biology of TP53. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:R497-R517. [PMID: 29941676 PMCID: PMC6106910 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The activation of TP53 is well known to exert tumor suppressive effects. We have detected a primate-specific adrenal androgen-mediated tumor suppression system in which circulating DHEAS is converted to DHEA specifically in cells in which TP53 has been inactivated DHEA is an uncompetitive inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), an enzyme indispensable for maintaining reactive oxygen species within limits survivable by the cell. Uncompetitive inhibition is otherwise unknown in natural systems because it becomes irreversible in the presence of high concentrations of substrate and inhibitor. In addition to primate-specific circulating DHEAS, a unique, primate-specific sequence motif that disables an activating regulatory site in the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) promoter was also required to enable function of this previously unrecognized tumor suppression system. In human somatic cells, loss of TP53 thus triggers activation of DHEAS transport proteins and steroid sulfatase, which converts circulating DHEAS into intracellular DHEA, and hexokinase which increases glucose-6-phosphate substrate concentration. The triggering of these enzymes in the TP53-affected cell combines with the primate-specific G6PC promoter sequence motif that enables G6P substrate accumulation, driving uncompetitive inhibition of G6PD to irreversibility and ROS-mediated cell death. By this catastrophic 'kill switch' mechanism, TP53 mutations are effectively prevented from initiating tumorigenesis in the somatic cells of humans, the primate with the highest peak levels of circulating DHEAS. TP53 mutations in human tumors therefore represent fossils of kill switch failure resulting from an age-related decline in circulating DHEAS, a potentially reversible artifact of hominid evolution.
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19
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Baranowski ES, Arlt W, Idkowiak J. Monogenic Disorders of Adrenal Steroidogenesis. Horm Res Paediatr 2018; 89:292-310. [PMID: 29874650 PMCID: PMC6067656 DOI: 10.1159/000488034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Disorders of adrenal steroidogenesis comprise autosomal recessive conditions affecting steroidogenic enzymes of the adrenal cortex. Those are located within the 3 major branches of the steroidogenic machinery involved in the production of mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. This mini review describes the principles of adrenal steroidogenesis, including the newly appreciated 11-oxygenated androgen pathway. This is followed by a description of pathophysiology, biochemistry, and clinical implications of steroidogenic disorders, including mutations affecting cholesterol import and steroid synthesis, the latter comprising both mutations affecting steroidogenic enzymes and co-factors required for efficient catalysis. A good understanding of adrenal steroidogenic pathways and their regulation is crucial as the basis for sound management of these disorders, which in the majority present in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S. Baranowski
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Wiebke Arlt
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, United Kingdom,*Prof. Wiebke Arlt, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT (UK), E-Mail
| | - Jan Idkowiak
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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20
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McHale TS, Chee WC, Chan KC, Zava DT, Gray PB. Coalitional Physical Competition. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2018; 29:245-267. [DOI: 10.1007/s12110-018-9321-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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21
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Mueller JW, Idkowiak J, Gesteira TF, Vallet C, Hardman R, van den Boom J, Dhir V, Knauer SK, Rosta E, Arlt W. Human DHEA sulfation requires direct interaction between PAPS synthase 2 and DHEA sulfotransferase SULT2A1. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:9724-9735. [PMID: 29743239 PMCID: PMC6016456 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The high-energy sulfate donor 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS), generated by human PAPS synthase isoforms PAPSS1 and PAPSS2, is required for all human sulfation pathways. Sulfotransferase SULT2A1 uses PAPS for sulfation of the androgen precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), thereby reducing downstream activation of DHEA to active androgens. Human PAPSS2 mutations manifest with undetectable DHEA sulfate, androgen excess, and metabolic disease, suggesting that ubiquitous PAPSS1 cannot compensate for deficient PAPSS2 in supporting DHEA sulfation. In knockdown studies in human adrenocortical NCI-H295R1 cells, we found that PAPSS2, but not PAPSS1, is required for efficient DHEA sulfation. Specific APS kinase activity, the rate-limiting step in PAPS biosynthesis, did not differ between PAPSS1 and PAPSS2. Co-expression of cytoplasmic SULT2A1 with a cytoplasmic PAPSS2 variant supported DHEA sulfation more efficiently than co-expression with nuclear PAPSS2 or nuclear/cytosolic PAPSS1. Proximity ligation assays revealed protein–protein interactions between SULT2A1 and PAPSS2 and, to a lesser extent, PAPSS1. Molecular docking studies showed a putative binding site for SULT2A1 within the PAPSS2 APS kinase domain. Energy-dependent scoring of docking solutions identified the interaction as specific for the PAPSS2 and SULT2A1 isoforms. These findings elucidate the mechanistic basis for the selective requirement for PAPSS2 in human DHEA sulfation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Mueller
- From the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom, .,the Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Idkowiak
- From the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.,the Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom
| | - Tarsis F Gesteira
- the Department of Chemistry, King's College London, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom, and
| | - Cecilia Vallet
- the Departments of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) and
| | - Rebecca Hardman
- From the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes van den Boom
- Molecular Biology I, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Vivek Dhir
- From the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Shirley K Knauer
- the Departments of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) and
| | - Edina Rosta
- the Department of Chemistry, King's College London, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom, and
| | - Wiebke Arlt
- From the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.,the Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom
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22
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Bernstein RM. Hormones and Human and Nonhuman Primate Growth. Horm Res Paediatr 2018; 88:15-21. [PMID: 28528334 DOI: 10.1159/000476065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to review information pertaining to the hormonal regulation of nonhuman primate growth, with specific focus on the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis and adrenal androgens. Hormones of the GH-IGF axis are consistently associated with measures of growth - linear, weight, or both - during the growth period; in adulthood, concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3, and GH-binding protein are not associated with any measures of size. Comparing patterns of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) may be especially relevant for understanding whether the childhood stage of growth and development is unique to humans and perhaps other apes. Genetic, hormonal, and morphological data on adrenarche in other nonhuman primate species suggest that this endocrine transition is delayed in humans, chimpanzees, and possibly gorillas, while present very early in postnatal life in macaques. This suggests that although perhaps permitted by an extension of the pre-adolescent growth period, childhood builds upon existing developmental substrates rather than having been inserted de novo into an ancestral growth trajectory. Hormones can provide insight regarding the evolution of the human growth trajectory.
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23
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Quinn T, Greaves R, Badoer E, Walker D. DHEA in Prenatal and Postnatal Life: Implications for Brain and Behavior. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2018; 108:145-174. [PMID: 30029725 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated congener (DHEAS) are the principal C19 steroid produced by the adrenal gland in many mammals, including humans. It is secreted in high concentrations during fetal life, but synthesis decreases after birth until, in humans and some other primates, there is a prepubertal surge of DHEA production by the adrenal gland-a phenomenon known as adrenarche. There remains considerable uncertainty about the physiological role of DHEA and DHEAS. Moreover, the origin of the trophic drives that determine the waxing and waning of DHEA synthesis are poorly understood. These gaps in knowledge arise in some measure from the difficulty of understanding mechanistic determinants from observations made opportunistically in humans and primates, and have stimulated a search for other suitable species that exhibit adrenarche- and adrenopause-like changes of adrenal function. DHEA and DHEAS are clearly neuroactive steroids with actions at several neurotransmitter receptors; indeed, DHEA is now known to be also synthesized by many parts of the brain, and this capacity undergoes ontogenic changes, but whether this is dependent or independent of the changes in adrenal synthesis is unknown. In this chapter we review key contributions to this field over the last 50+ years, and speculate on the importance of DHEA for the brain, both during development and for maturation and aging of cerebral function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Quinn
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ronda Greaves
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University-Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emilio Badoer
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University-Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Walker
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University-Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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24
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Bogin B, Varea C, Hermanussen M, Scheffler C. Human life course biology: A centennial perspective of scholarship on the human pattern of physical growth and its place in human biocultural evolution. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 165:834-854. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barry Bogin
- School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences; Loughborough University, LE11 3TU; UK
| | - Carlos Varea
- Department of Biology, Physical Anthropology Group; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | | | - Christiane Scheffler
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology; University of Potsdam; Potsdam 14469 Germany
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Development and Validation of an Enzyme Immunoassay for Fecal Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata). INT J PRIMATOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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26
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Miller WL. Steroidogenesis: Unanswered Questions. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2017; 28:771-793. [PMID: 29031608 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Until the mid-1980s studies of steroidogenesis largely depended on identifying steroid structures and measuring steroid concentrations in body fluids. The molecular biology revolution radically revolutionized studies of steroidogenesis with the cloning of known steroidogenic enzymes, by identifying novel factors, and delineating the genetic basis of known and newly discovered diseases. Unfortunately, this dramatic success has led many young research-oriented endocrinologists to regard steroidogenesis as a 'solved area'. However, many important and exciting questions remain, especially concerning the mechanisms of cholesterol delivery to the steroidogenic machinery, the biochemistry of androgen synthesis, the regulation and biological role of adrenarche, fetal adrenal development and involution, the roles of steroids made in 'extraglandular' cells, and the search for genetic disorders. This review outlines some of these questions, but this list is necessarily incomplete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143-0556, USA.
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27
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Behringer V, Deschner T. Non-invasive monitoring of physiological markers in primates. Horm Behav 2017; 91:3-18. [PMID: 28202354 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The monitoring of endocrine markers that inform about an animal's physiological state has become an invaluable tool for studying the behavioral ecology of primates. While the collection of blood samples usually requires the animal to be caught and immobilized, non-invasively collected samples of saliva, urine, feces or hair can be obtained without any major disturbance of the subject of interest. Such samples enable repeated collection which is required for matching behavioral information over long time periods with detailed information on endocrine markers. We start our review by giving an overview of endocrine and immune markers that have been successfully monitored in relation to topics of interest in primate behavioral ecology. These topics include reproductive, nutritional and health status, changes during ontogeny, social behavior such as rank relationships, aggression and cooperation as well as welfare and conservation issues. We continue by explaining which hormones can be measured in which matrices, and potential problems with measurements. We then describe different methods of hormone measurements and address their advantages and disadvantages. We finally emphasize the importance of thorough validation procedures when measuring a specific hormone in a new species or matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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28
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Edes AN. Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), sex, and age in zoo-housed western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Primates 2017; 58:385-392. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-017-0602-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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Edes AN, Crews DE. Allostatic load and biological anthropology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 162 Suppl 63:44-70. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N. Edes
- Department of Anthropology and School of Public HealthThe Ohio State University
| | - Douglas E. Crews
- Department of Anthropology and School of Public HealthThe Ohio State University
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30
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Mueller JW, Gilligan LC, Idkowiak J, Arlt W, Foster PA. The Regulation of Steroid Action by Sulfation and Desulfation. Endocr Rev 2015; 36:526-63. [PMID: 26213785 PMCID: PMC4591525 DOI: 10.1210/er.2015-1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Steroid sulfation and desulfation are fundamental pathways vital for a functional vertebrate endocrine system. After biosynthesis, hydrophobic steroids are sulfated to expedite circulatory transit. Target cells express transmembrane organic anion-transporting polypeptides that facilitate cellular uptake of sulfated steroids. Once intracellular, sulfatases hydrolyze these steroid sulfate esters to their unconjugated, and usually active, forms. Because most steroids can be sulfated, including cholesterol, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and estrone, understanding the function, tissue distribution, and regulation of sulfation and desulfation processes provides significant insights into normal endocrine function. Not surprisingly, dysregulation of these pathways is associated with numerous pathologies, including steroid-dependent cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome, and X-linked ichthyosis. Here we provide a comprehensive examination of our current knowledge of endocrine-related sulfation and desulfation pathways. We describe the interplay between sulfatases and sulfotransferases, showing how their expression and regulation influences steroid action. Furthermore, we address the role that organic anion-transporting polypeptides play in regulating intracellular steroid concentrations and how their expression patterns influence many pathologies, especially cancer. Finally, the recent advances in pharmacologically targeting steroidogenic pathways will be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Mueller
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna C Gilligan
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Idkowiak
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Wiebke Arlt
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Foster
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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32
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Del Giudice M. Attachment in Middle Childhood: An Evolutionary-Developmental Perspective. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2015; 2015:15-30. [DOI: 10.1002/cad.20101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Prall SP, Ambu L, Nathan S, Alsisto S, Ramirez D, Muehlenbein MP. Androgens and innate immunity in rehabilitated semi-captive orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus morio) from Malaysian Borneo. Am J Primatol 2015; 77:642-50. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Prall
- Department of Anthropology; Indiana University; Bloomington Indiana
| | | | | | - Sylvia Alsisto
- Sabah Wildlife Department; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah Malaysia
| | - Diana Ramirez
- Sabah Wildlife Department; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah Malaysia
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34
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Krøll J. Dehydroepiandrosterone, molecular chaperones and the epigenetics of primate longevity. Rejuvenation Res 2015; 18:341-346. [PMID: 25706901 DOI: 10.1089/rej.2014.1641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid hormones. The plasma level of DHEAS correlates with longevity in primates and varies during human development with a maximum in early adulthood and a marked decline during aging. DHEA promotes the expression of molecular chaperones which are housekeeping stress response proteins essential for the processes of folding, translocation, maintenance and repair of proteins, RNA and DNA, as well as for homeostasis, immune response and cancer resistance. The level of chaperone expression correlates with longevity and shows a decline during aging. DHEA-induced promotion of chaperone expression could contribute to the epigenetic evolution of primate longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Krøll
- Hafnia Unit of Biogerontology , Godthåbsvej 111,3 , Frederiksberg, Denmark , DK 2000 , +45 38862220 ;
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35
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Del Giudice M. Middle Childhood: An Evolutionary-Developmental Synthesis. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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36
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Parker CR, Grizzle WE, Blevins JK, Hawkes K. Development of adrenal cortical zonation and expression of key elements of adrenal androgen production in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) from birth to adulthood. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 387:35-43. [PMID: 24576611 PMCID: PMC4016767 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The basis for the pattern of adrenal androgen production in the chimpanzee, which resembles that of humans, is poorly defined. We characterized the developmental zonation and expression of elements of the androgen biosynthetic pathway in the chimpanzee adrenal. The newborn adrenal contained a broad fetal zone (FZ) expressing CYP17, SULT2A1, and Cytochrome B5 (CB5) but not HSD3B; the outer cortex expressed HSD3B but not SULT2A1 or CB5. During infancy, the FZ involuted and the HSD3B-expressing outer cortex broadened. By 3years of age, a thin layer of cells that expressed CB5, SULT2A1, and CYP17 adjoined the medulla and likely represented the zona reticularis; the outer cortex consisted of distinct zonae fasiculata and glomerulosa. Thereafter, the zona reticularis broadened as also occurs in the human. The adult chimpanzee adrenal displayed other human-like characteristics: intramedullary clusters of reticularis-like cells and also a cortical cuff of zona fasiculata-like cells adjoining the central vein.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Parker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
| | - W E Grizzle
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
| | - J K Blevins
- Department of Anthropology, 270S 140E., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - K Hawkes
- Department of Anthropology, 270S 140E., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
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Hawkes K, Coxworth JE. Grandmothers and the evolution of human longevity: A review of findings and future directions. Evol Anthropol 2013; 22:294-302. [DOI: 10.1002/evan.21382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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38
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Blevins JK, Coxworth JE, Herndon JG, Hawkes K. Brief communication: Adrenal androgens and aging: Female chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) compared with women. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2013; 151:643-8. [PMID: 23818143 PMCID: PMC4412270 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cycling continues to similar ages in women and chimpanzees yet our nearest living cousins become decrepit during their fertile years and rarely outlive them. Given the importance of estrogen in maintaining physiological systems aside from fertility, similar ovarian aging in humans and chimpanzees combined with somatic aging differences indicates an important role for nonovarian estrogen. Consistent with this framework, researchers have nominated the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS), which can be peripherally converted to estrogen, as a biomarker of aging in humans and other primates. Faster decline in production of this steroid with age in chimpanzees could help explain somatic aging differences. Here, we report circulating levels of DHEAS in captive female chimpanzees and compare them with published levels in women. Instead of faster, the decline is slower in chimpanzees, but from a much lower peak. Levels reported for other great apes are lower still. These results point away from slowed decline but toward increased DHEAS production as one of the mechanisms underlying the evolution of human longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K. Blevins
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Department of Biology, Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - James G. Herndon
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Kristen Hawkes
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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39
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Conley AJ, Bernstein RM, Nguyen AD. Adrenarche in nonhuman primates: the evidence for it and the need to redefine it. J Endocrinol 2012; 214:121-31. [PMID: 22378920 DOI: 10.1530/joe-11-0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Adrenarche is most commonly defined as a prepubertal increase in circulating adrenal androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfo-conjugate (DHEAS). This event is thought to have evolved in humans and some great apes but not in Old World monkeys, perhaps to promote brain development. Whether adrenarche represents a shared, derived developmental event in humans and our closest relatives, adrenal androgen secretion (and its regulation) is of considerable clinical interest. Specifically, adrenal androgens play a significant role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian disease and breast and prostate cancers. Understanding the development of androgen secretion by the human adrenal cortex and identifying a suitable model for its study are therefore of central importance for clinical and evolutionary concerns. This review will examine the evidence for adrenarche in nonhuman primates (NHP) and suggest that a broader definition of this developmental event is needed, including morphological, biochemical, and endocrine criteria. Using such a definition, evidence from recent studies suggests that adrenarche evolved in Old World primates but spans a relatively brief period early in development compared with humans and some great apes. This emphasizes the need for frequent longitudinal sampling in evaluating developmental changes in adrenal androgen secretion as well as the tenuous nature of existing evidence of adrenarche in some species among the great apes. Central to an understanding of the regulation of adrenal androgen production in humans is the recognition of the complex nature of adrenarche and the need for more carefully conducted comparative studies and a broader definition in order to promote investigation among NHP in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Conley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, VM-PHR, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
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40
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Behringer V, Hohmann G, Stevens JMG, Weltring A, Deschner T. Adrenarche in bonobos (Pan paniscus): evidence from ontogenetic changes in urinary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels. J Endocrinol 2012; 214:55-65. [PMID: 22562655 DOI: 10.1530/joe-12-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Adrenarche is characterized by the onset of adrenal secretions of increasing amounts of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S). While the function of adrenarche remains a matter of speculation, evidence suggests that the morphological and physiological changes related to it are restricted to humans and closely related primates. Within the primate order, adrenarche has been described only in humans and chimpanzees, but bonobos, the sister species of chimpanzees, have not yet been studied regarding the early ontogenetic changes such as adrenarche. While bonobos and chimpanzees share many morphological and behavioral characteristics, they differ in a number of behavioral traits, and there is a growing interest in terms of the physiological differences that can be linked to species-specific patterns of social behavior. In this study, we measured urinary DHEA-S levels to determine whether bonobos experience physiological changes that are indicative of adrenarche. We measured DHEA-S in urine using ELISA and analyzed its levels in the samples from 53 bonobos aged 1-18 years. Our results show that bonobos experience an increase in DHEA-S levels after 5 years of age, which is comparable with the patterns observed in humans and chimpanzees. This indicates that bonobos do undergo adrenarche and that the timing of onset is similar to that of the two Pan species. The extraction procedures described in this report demonstrate the use of urine for monitoring ontogenetic changes in DHEA-S excretion. If applicable to other species, the technique would facilitate more research on the evolutionary origin of adrenarche and other developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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