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Rohayem J, Alexander EC, Heger S, Nordenström A, Howard SR. Mini-Puberty, Physiological and Disordered: Consequences, and Potential for Therapeutic Replacement. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:460-492. [PMID: 38436980 PMCID: PMC11244267 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
There are 3 physiological waves of central hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activity over the lifetime. The first occurs during fetal life, the second-termed "mini-puberty"-in the first months after birth, and the third at puberty. After adolescence, the axis remains active all through adulthood. Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion or action. In cases of severe CHH, all 3 waves of GnRH pulsatility are absent. The absence of fetal HPG axis activation manifests in around 50% of male newborns with micropenis and/or undescended testes (cryptorchidism). In these boys, the lack of the mini-puberty phase accentuates testicular immaturity. This is characterized by a low number of Sertoli cells, which are important for future reproductive capacity. Thus, absent mini-puberty will have detrimental effects on later fertility in these males. The diagnosis of CHH is often missed in infants, and even if recognized, there is no consensus on optimal therapeutic management. Here we review physiological mini-puberty and consequences of central HPG axis disorders; provide a diagnostic approach to allow for early identification of these conditions; and review current treatment options for replacement of mini-puberty in male infants with CHH. There is evidence from small case series that replacement with gonadotropins to mimic "mini-puberty" in males could have beneficial outcomes not only regarding testis descent, but also normalization of testis and penile sizes. Moreover, such therapeutic replacement regimens in disordered mini-puberty could address both reproductive and nonreproductive implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Rohayem
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, 9006 St. Gallen, Switzerland
- University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Emma C Alexander
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sabine Heger
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Auf der Bult, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Nordenström
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sasha R Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal London Children's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London E1 1FR, UK
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2
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Fishman R, Kralj-Fišer S, Marglit S, Koren L, Vortman Y. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters: Sex-specific genetic architecture for fetal testosterone in a wild mammal. Horm Behav 2024; 161:105525. [PMID: 38452612 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105525] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Testosterone plays a critical role in mediating fitness-related traits in many species. Although it is highly responsive to environmental and social conditions, evidence from several species show a heritable component to its individual variation. Despite the known effects that in utero testosterone exposure have on adult fitness, the heritable component of individual testosterone variation in fetuses is mostly unexplored. Furthermore, testosterone has sex-differential effects on fetal development, i.e., a specific level may be beneficial for male fetuses but detrimental for females, producing sexual conflict. Such sexual conflict may be resolved by the evolution of a sex-specific genetic architecture of the trait. Here, we quantified fetal testosterone levels in a wild species, free-ranging nutrias (Myocastor coypus) using hair-testing and estimated testosterone heritability between parent and offspring from the same and opposite sex. We found that in utero accumulated hair testosterone levels were heritable between parents and offspring of the same sex. Moreover, there was a low additive genetic covariance between the sexes, and a low cross-sex genetic correlation, suggesting a potential for sex-specific trait evolution, expressed early on, in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Fishman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel(1); The Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
| | - Simona Kralj-Fišer
- Scientific and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Sivan Marglit
- Hula Research Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel
| | - Lee Koren
- The Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
| | - Yoni Vortman
- Hula Research Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee 1220800, Israel; MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute, 11016 Kiryat Shmona, Israel
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Austerberry C, Mateen M, Fearon P, Ronald A. Heritability of Psychological Traits and Developmental Milestones in Infancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2227887. [PMID: 35994288 PMCID: PMC9396365 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.27887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Although infancy is the most rapid period of postnatal growth and development, factors associated with variation in infant traits are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To synthesize the large twin study literature partitioning phenotypic variance in psychological traits and developmental milestones in infancy into estimates of heritability and shared and nonshared environment. DATA SOURCES PubMed, PsycINFO, and references of included publications were searched up to February 11, 2021. STUDY SELECTION Peer-reviewed publications using the classical twin design to study psychological traits and developmental milestones from birth to 2 years old were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Data were extracted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and categorized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Children and Youth Version. Data were pooled in 3-level random effects models, incorporating within-cohort variance in outcome measurement and between-cohort variance. Data were analyzed from March 2021 through September 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcomes were monozygotic and dizygotic twin correlations. These were used to calculate genetic and shared and nonshared environment estimates. RESULTS Among 139 publications that were systematically retrieved, data were available on 79 044 twin pairs (31 053 monozygotic and 47 991 dizygotic pairs), 52 independent samples, and 21 countries. Meta-analyses were conducted on psychological traits and developmental milestones from 106 publications organized into 10 categories of functioning, disability, and health. Moderate to high genetic estimates for 8 categories were found, the highest of which was psychomotor functions (pooled h2, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.25-0.79; P < .001). Several categories of traits had substantial shared environment estimates, the highest being mental functions of language (pooled c2, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86; P = .001). All examined categories of traits had moderate or high nonshared environment estimates, the highest of which were emotional functions (pooled e2, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.33-0.50; P < .001) and family relationships (pooled e2, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.55; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings may be an important source of information to guide future gene discovery research, public perspectives on nature and nurture, and clinical insights into the degree to which family history and environments may estimate major domains of infant functioning, disability, and health in psychological traits and developmental milestones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Austerberry
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Mateen
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pasco Fearon
- Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Angelica Ronald
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Alex AM, Ruvio T, Xia K, Jha SC, Girault JB, Wang L, Li G, Shen D, Cornea E, Styner MA, Gilmore JH, Knickmeyer RC. Influence of gonadal steroids on cortical surface area in infancy. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3206-3223. [PMID: 34952542 PMCID: PMC9340392 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab410] [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: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the human brain emerge as early as mid-gestation and have been linked to sex hormones, particularly testosterone. Here, we analyzed the influence of markers of early sex hormone exposure (polygenic risk score (PRS) for testosterone, salivary testosterone, number of CAG repeats, digit ratios, and PRS for estradiol) on the growth pattern of cortical surface area in a longitudinal cohort of 722 infants. We found PRS for testosterone and right-hand digit ratio to be significantly associated with surface area, but only in females. PRS for testosterone at the most stringent P value threshold was positively associated with surface area development over time. Higher right-hand digit ratio, which is indicative of low prenatal testosterone levels, was negatively related to surface area in females. The current work suggests that variation in testosterone levels during both the prenatal and postnatal period may contribute to cortical surface area development in female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Mary Alex
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Tom Ruvio
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kai Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shaili C Jha
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jessica B Girault
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dinggang Shen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Emil Cornea
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca C Knickmeyer
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Center for Research in Autism, Intellectual, and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Maternal Cortisol and Paternal Testosterone Correlated with Infant Growth via Mini Puberty. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-021-00175-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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6
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Richardson T. No association between adult sex steroids and hand preference in humans. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 34:e23605. [PMID: 33949024 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is ongoing debate about the effects of hormones on the lateralization of the developing brain. In humans, there are conflicting theories of how testosterone during development should affect lateralization. Empirical studies linking prenatal and postnatal testosterone levels to hand preference (a proxy for lateralization) are similarly mixed. Links between hand preference and health may also suggest a mediating role of steroid hormones such as testosterone and estradiol. Studies to date of adult steroid hormones and handedness have been hindered by samples that contain small numbers of non-right-handers. RESULTS In the largest study of the phenomenon to date, I find that the testosterone (n = 7290) and estradiol (n = 3700) levels of left- and mixed-handed adults are no different to those of right-handers. All Bayesian 95% highest density intervals contained 0. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The results have implications for studies that show elevated risk of hormonal-related mental and physical disorders in left-handed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Richardson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Endendijk JJ, Groeneveld MG, Mesman J. The Gendered Family Process Model: An Integrative Framework of Gender in the Family. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:877-904. [PMID: 29549542 PMCID: PMC5891573 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1185-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews and integrates research on gender-related biological, cognitive, and social processes that take place in or between family members, resulting in a newly developed gendered family process (GFP) model. The GFP model serves as a guiding framework for research on gender in the family context, calling for the integration of biological, social, and cognitive factors. Biological factors in the model are prenatal, postnatal, and pubertal androgen levels of children and parents, and genetic effects on parent and child gendered behavior. Social factors are family sex composition (i.e., parent sex, sexual orientation, marriage status, sibling sex composition) and parental gender socialization, such as modeling, gender-differentiated parenting, and gender talk. Cognitive factors are implicit and explicit gender-role cognitions of parents and children. Our review and the GFP model confirm that gender is an important organizer of family processes, but also highlight that much is still unclear about the mechanisms underlying gender-related processes within the family context. Therefore, we stress the need for (1) longitudinal studies that take into account the complex bidirectional relationship between parent and child gendered behavior and cognitions, in which within-family comparisons (comparing behavior of parents toward a boy and a girl in the same family) are made instead of between-family comparisons (comparing parenting between all-boy families and all-girl families, or between mixed-gender families and same-gender families), (2) experimental studies on the influence of testosterone on human gender development, (3) studies examining the interplay between biology with gender socialization and gender-role cognitions in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce J Endendijk
- Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen G Groeneveld
- Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judi Mesman
- Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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8
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Del Giudice M, Barrett ES, Belsky J, Hartman S, Martel MM, Sangenstedt S, Kuzawa CW. Individual differences in developmental plasticity: A role for early androgens? Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 90:165-173. [PMID: 29500952 PMCID: PMC5864561 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity is a widespread property of living organisms, but different individuals in the same species can vary greatly in how susceptible they are to environmental influences. In humans, research has sought to link variation in plasticity to physiological traits such as stress reactivity, exposure to prenatal stress-related hormones such as cortisol, and specific genes involved in major neurobiological pathways. However, the determinants of individual differences in plasticity are still poorly understood. Here we present the novel hypothesis that, in both sexes, higher exposure to androgens during prenatal and early postnatal life should lead to increased plasticity in traits that display greater male variability (i.e., a majority of physical and behavioral traits). First, we review evidence of greater phenotypic variation and higher susceptibility to environmental factors in males; we then consider evolutionary models that explain greater male variability and plasticity as a result of sexual selection. These empirical and theoretical strands converge on the hypothesis that androgens may promote developmental plasticity, at least for traits that show greater male variability. We discuss a number of potential mechanisms that may mediate this effect (including upregulation of neural plasticity), and address the question of whether androgen-induced plasticity is likely to be adaptive or maladaptive. We conclude by offering suggestions for future studies in this area, and considering some research designs that could be used to empirically test our hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Emily S Barrett
- School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Hartman
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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9
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Grotzinger AD, Mann FD, Patterson MW, Herzhoff K, Tackett JL, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP. Twin models of environmental and genetic influences on pubertal development, salivary testosterone, and estradiol in adolescence. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2018; 88:243-250. [PMID: 29161770 PMCID: PMC5771835 DOI: 10.1111/cen.13522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research on sources of variation in adolescent's gonadal hormone levels is limited. We sought to decompose individual differences in adolescent testosterone, estradiol, and pubertal status, into genetic and environmental components. DESIGN A sample of male and female adolescent twins from the greater Austin and Houston areas provided salivary samples, with a subset of participants providing longitudinal data at 2 waves. PARTICIPANTS The sample included 902 adolescent twins, 49% female, aged 13-20 years (M = 15.91) from the Texas Twin Project. Thirty-seven per cent of twin pairs were monozygotic; 30% were same-sex dizygotic (DZ) pairs; and 33% were opposite-sex DZ pairs. MEASUREMENTS Saliva samples were assayed for testosterone and estradiol using chemiluminescence immunoassays. Pubertal status was assessed using self-report. Biometric decompositions were performed using multivariate quantitative genetic models. RESULTS Genetic factors contributed substantially to variation in testosterone in males and females in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle (h2 = 60% and 51%, respectively). Estradiol was also genetically influenced in both sexes, but was predominately influenced by nonshared environmental factors. The correlation between testosterone and estradiol was mediated by a combination of genetic and environmental influences for males and females. Genetic and environmental influences on hormonal concentrations were only weakly correlated with self-reported pubertal status, particularly for females. CONCLUSIONS Between-person variability in adolescent gonadal hormones and their interrelationship reflects both genetic and environmental processes, with both testosterone and estradiol containing sizeable heritable components.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank D. Mann
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Megan W. Patterson
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Kathrin Herzhoff
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Elliot M. Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - K. Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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10
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Constantinescu M, Moore DS, Johnson SP, Hines M. Early contributions to infants’ mental rotation abilities. Dev Sci 2017; 21:e12613. [DOI: 10.1111/desc.12613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David S. Moore
- Psychology Field Group; Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University; Claremont CA USA
| | - Scott P. Johnson
- Department of Psychology; University of California; Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Melissa Hines
- Department of Psychology; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
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Biobehavioral Factors in Child Health Outcomes: The Roles of Maternal Stress, Maternal-Child Engagement, Salivary Cortisol, and Salivary Testosterone. Nurs Res 2017; 65:340-51. [PMID: 27579502 DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to high levels of maternal stress and ineffective maternal-child engagement (MC-E) may adversely affect child health-related outcomes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the impact of maternal stress and MC-E on maternal and child biological responses (salivary cortisol and testosterone) and child health outcome in mother-child dyads of preschool children (3-5.9 years) in a low socioeconomic setting. METHODS Observational and biobehavioral data were collected from 50 mother-child dyads in a preschool setting. Assessments included maternal stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, child health outcomes with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and MC-E with videotaped mother-child interactions and scored with the Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale. Morning and evening saliva samples were collected from mother and child for biological assays. RESULTS Maternal stress was negatively correlated with MC-E (r = -.32, p < .05) and child health outcome (r = -.33, p < .05). Lower levels of MC-E predicted higher morning cortisol (p = .02) and higher morning and bedtime testosterone levels in children (p = .03 and p = .04, respectively). Child biological responses did not predict child health outcome. DISCUSSION Maternal stress and MC-E during mother-child interactions play a significant role in the regulation of child stress physiology and child health outcome. Elevated cortisol and testosterone related to high maternal stress and low MC-E may increase the child's vulnerability to negative health outcomes-if sustained. More biobehavioral research is needed to understand how parent-child interactions affect child development and health outcomes in early childhood.
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12
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Sung J, Song YM. Genetic effects on serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in men: a Korean twin and family study. Asian J Androl 2016; 18:786-90. [PMID: 26486061 PMCID: PMC5000805 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.164923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study to evaluate the role of genetics in determining the individual difference in total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels. Study participants comprised 730 Korean men consisting of 142 pairs of monozygotic twins, 191 pairs of siblings, and 259 father-offspring pairs from 270 families who participated in the Healthy Twin study. Serum concentration of total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone were calculated using Vermeulen's method. Quantitative genetic analysis based on a variance decomposition model showed that the heritability of total testosterone, free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin were 0.56, 0.45, 0.44, and 0.69, respectively after accounting for age and body mass index. Proportions of variance explained by age and body mass index varied across different traits, from 8% for total testosterone to 31% for sex hormone-binding globulin. Bivariate analysis showed a high degree of additive genetic correlation (ρG = 0.67) and a moderate degree of individual-specific environmental correlation (ρE = 0.42) between total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin. The findings confirmed the important role of genetics in determining the individually different levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin during adulthood in Korean men as found in non-Asian populations, which may suggest that common biologic control for determining testosterone level directly or indirectly through binding protein are largely shared among different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joohon Sung
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
- Institute of Health Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
| | - Yun-Mi Song
- Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center and Center for Clinical Research, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, South Korea
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13
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Kung KTF, Browne WV, Constantinescu M, Noorderhaven RM, Hines M. Early postnatal testosterone predicts sex-related differences in early expressive vocabulary. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 68:111-6. [PMID: 26970201 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
During the first few years of life, girls typically have a larger expressive vocabulary than boys. This sex difference is important since a small vocabulary may predict subsequent language difficulties, which are more prevalent in boys than girls. The masculinizing effects of early androgen exposure on neurobehavioral development are well-documented in nonhuman mammals. The present study conducted the first test of whether early postnatal testosterone concentrations influence sex differences in expressive vocabulary in toddlers. It was found that testosterone measured in saliva samples collected at 1-3 months of age, i.e., during the period called mini-puberty, negatively predicted parent-report expressive vocabulary size at 18-30 months of age in boys and in girls. Testosterone concentrations during mini-puberty also accounted for additional variance in expressive vocabulary after other predictors such as sex, child's age at vocabulary assessment, and paternal education, were taken into account. Furthermore, testosterone concentrations during mini-puberty mediated the sex difference in expressive vocabulary. These results suggest that testosterone during the early postnatal period contributes to early language development and neurobehavioral sexual differentiation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karson T F Kung
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK.
| | - Wendy V Browne
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK
| | - Mihaela Constantinescu
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK
| | - Rebecca M Noorderhaven
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK
| | - Melissa Hines
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, UK
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14
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Ellis L, Hoskin AW. Criminality and the 2D:4D ratio: testing the prenatal androgen hypothesis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2015; 59:295-312. [PMID: 24013770 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x13503813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A decade old theory hypothesizes that brain exposure to androgens promotes involvement in criminal behavior. General support for this hypothesis has been provided by studies of postpubertal circulating levels of testosterone, at least among males. However, the theory also predicts that for both genders, prenatal androgens will be positively correlated with persistent offending, an idea for which no evidence currently exists. The present study used an indirect measure of prenatal androgen exposure-the relative length of the second and fourth fingers of the right hand (r2D:4D)-to test the hypothesis that elevated prenatal androgens promote criminal tendencies later in life for males and females. Questionnaires were administered to 2,059 college students in Malaysia and 1,291 college students in the United States. Respondents reported their r2D:4D relative finger lengths along with involvement in 13 categories of delinquent and criminal acts. Statistically significant correlations between the commission of most types of offenses and r2D:4D ratios were found for males and females even after controlling for age. It is concluded that high exposure to androgens during prenatal development contributes to most forms of offending following the onset of puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Ellis
- University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Pascual-Sagastizabal E, Azurmendi A, Braza F, Vergara AI, Cardas J, Sánchez-Martín JR. Parenting styles and hormone levels as predictors of physical and indirect aggression in boys and girls. Aggress Behav 2014; 40:465-73. [PMID: 24954610 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between parenting style, androgen levels, and measures of physical and indirect aggression. Peer ratings of aggression were obtained from 159 eight-year-old children (89 boys and 70 girls). Parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian or permissive) were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ).Saliva samples were obtained from children and assayed for testosterone and androstenedione concentrations. A regression analysis revealed that high testosterone levels were associated with a higher level of physical aggression in boys with authoritarian mothers. Testosterone was also found to moderate the relationship between father's authoritarian parenting and physical aggression in girls, with both moderate and high levels being significant. In relation to indirect aggression, moderate and high levels of testosterone were associated with higher levels of this type of aggression in girls with permissive mothers. Our results highlight the importance of taking into account the interaction of biological and psychosocial variables when investigating aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aitziber Azurmendi
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Faculty of Psychology; University of the Basque Country; San Sebastian Spain
| | - Francisco Braza
- Doñana Biological Station; Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC); Seville Spain
| | - Ana I. Vergara
- Department of Social Psychology and Methodology of the Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology; University of the Basque Country; San Sebastian Spain
| | - Jaione Cardas
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy; The Public University of Navarre; Pamplona Spain
| | - José R. Sánchez-Martín
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Faculty of Psychology; University of the Basque Country; San Sebastian Spain
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Harden KP, Kretsch N, Tackett JL, Tucker-Drob EM. Genetic and environmental influences on testosterone in adolescents: evidence for sex differences. Dev Psychobiol 2014; 56:1278-89. [PMID: 24523135 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated genetic and environmental influences on salivary testosterone during adolescence, using data from 49 pairs of monozygotic twins and 68 pairs of dizygotic twins, ages 14-19 years (M = 16.0 years). Analyses tested for sex differences in genetic and environmental influences on testosterone and its relation to pubertal development. Among adolescent males, individual differences in testosterone were heritable (55%) and significantly associated with self-reported pubertal status (controlling for age) via common genetic influences. In contrast, there was minimal heritable variation in testosterone for females, and testosterone in females was not significantly associated with pubertal status after controlling for age. Rather, environmental influences shared by twins raised together accounted for nearly all of the familial similarity in female testosterone. This study adds to a small but growing body of research that investigates genetic influences on individual differences in behaviorally relevant hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX.
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17
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Travison TG, Zhuang WV, Lunetta KL, Karasik D, Bhasin S, Kiel DP, Coviello AD, Murabito JM. The heritability of circulating testosterone, oestradiol, oestrone and sex hormone binding globulin concentrations in men: the Framingham Heart Study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2014; 80:277-82. [PMID: 23746309 PMCID: PMC3825765 DOI: 10.1111/cen.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Circulating testosterone, oestradiol and oestrone concentrations vary considerably between men. Although a substantial proportion of this variation may be attributed to morbidity and behavioural factors, these cannot account for its entirety, suggesting genetic inheritance as a potential additional determinant. The analysis described here was intended to estimate the heritability of male circulating total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), along with the genetic correlation between these factors. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational analysis of data from male members of the Offspring and Generation 3 cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study. Data were collected in the years 1998-2005. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3367 community-dwelling men contributed to the analysis, including 1066 father/son and 1284 brother pairs among other family relationships. MEASUREMENTS Levels of serum sex steroids (TT, E1 and E2) were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, SHBG by immunofluorometric assay and cFT by mass action equation. Heritability was obtained using variance components analysis with adjustment for covariates including age, diabetes mellitus, body mass index and smoking status. RESULTS Age-adjusted heritability estimates were 0·19, 0·40, 0·40, 0·30 and 0·41 for cFT, TT, E1, E2 and SHBG, respectively. Adjustment for covariates did not substantially attenuate these estimates; SHBG-adjusted TT results were similar to those obtained for cFT. Genetic correlation coefficients (ρG ) indicated substantial genetic association between TT and cFT (ρG = 0·68), between TT and SHBG (pG = 0·87), between E1 and E2 (ρG = 0·46) and between TT and E2 (ρG = 0·48). CONCLUSION Circulating testosterone, oestradiol and oestrone concentrations exhibit substantial heritability in adult men. Significant genetic association between testosterone and oestrogen levels suggests shared genetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Travison
- Research Program on Men's Health, Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Xia K, Yu Y, Ahn M, Zhu H, Zou F, Gilmore JH, Knickmeyer RC. Environmental and genetic contributors to salivary testosterone levels in infants. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:187. [PMID: 25400620 PMCID: PMC4214198 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in early infancy plays an important role in male genital development and sexual differentiation of the brain, but factors contributing to individual variation in testosterone levels during this period are poorly understood. We measured salivary testosterone levels in 222 infants (119 males, 103 females, 108 singletons, 114 twins) between 2.70 and 4.80 months of age. We tested 16 major demographic and medical history variables for effects on inter-individual variation in salivary testosterone. Using the subset of twins, we estimated genetic and environmental contributions to salivary testosterone levels. Finally, we tested single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within ±5 kb of genes involved in testosterone synthesis, transport, signaling, and metabolism for associations with salivary testosterone using univariate tests and random forest (RF) analysis. We report an association between 5 min APGAR scores and salivary testosterone levels in males. Twin modeling indicated that individual variability in testosterone levels was primarily explained by environmental factors. Regarding genetic variation, univariate tests did not reveal any variants significantly associated with salivary testosterone after adjusting for false discovery rate. The top hit in males was rs10923844, an SNP of unknown function located downstream of HSD3B1 and HSD3B2. The top hits in females were two SNPs located upstream of ESR1 (rs3407085 and rs2295190). RF analysis, which reflects joint and conditional effects of multiple variants, indicated that genes involved in regulation of reproductive function, particularly LHCGR, are related to salivary testosterone levels in male infants, as are genes involved in cholesterol production, transport, and removal, while genes involved in estrogen signaling are related to salivary testosterone levels in female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mihye Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hongtu Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Knickmeyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- *Correspondence: Rebecca C. Knickmeyer, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, 343 Medical Wings C, Campus Box #7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA e-mail:
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Panizzon MS, Hauger R, Jacobson KC, Eaves LJ, York TP, Prom-Wormley E, Grant MD, Lyons MJ, McKenzie R, Mendoza SP, Xian H, Franz CE, Kremen WS. Genetic and environmental influences of daily and intra-individual variation in testosterone levels in middle-aged men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38:2163-72. [PMID: 23639251 PMCID: PMC3775872 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testosterone regulates numerous physiological processes, and evidence suggests that it plays a critical role in male aging. It has yet to be determined whether the heritability of testosterone varies in accordance with its diurnal rhythm. Similarly, it is unclear whether changes in testosterone level throughout the day are genetically influenced. The aim of the present study was to determine the degree to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in testosterone throughout the day in middle-aged men. METHODS Saliva-based measures of free testosterone, sampled at multiple time-points both at-home and in-lab, were collected from 783 male twins (193 monozygotic pairs, 196 dizygotic pairs, 5 unpaired twins) as part of the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA). The average age of participants was 55.9 years (SD=2.6). RESULTS Testosterone levels declined substantially over the course of the day, with 32-39% of the change occurring in the first 30min after waking. Heritability estimates for specific time-points ranged from .02 to .39. The heritability of the average at-home and in-lab testosterone values were notably higher (.42 and .47 respectively). Daily rates of change showed some evidence of genetic influence, with heritability estimates ranging from .15 to .29, whereas there were no observable genetic influences on coefficients of variation. CONCLUSIONS Genetic influences account for a significant proportion of the variance in average testosterone levels, while environmental factors account for the majority of intra-individual variability. These results highlight the need to explore both genetic and individual-specific environmental factors as determinants of free testosterone levels in aging men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Corresponding Author: Dr. Matthew S. Panizzon, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive (MC 0738), La Jolla, CA 9293-0738; Tel: 858-534-8269; Fax: 858-822-5856;
| | - Richard Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Lindon J. Eaves
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Timothy P. York
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Elizabeth Prom-Wormley
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | | | | | - Ruth McKenzie
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Sally P. Mendoza
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO,VA St. Louis Healthcare System, St. Louis, MO
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
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