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Postnatal testosterone concentrations and male social development.

Gerianne M Alexander1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX , USA.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|March 7, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Early life testosterone surges influence male infant social behavior and may predict autism spectrum disorder traits. This research explores the impact of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activation on male development.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderinfancypostnatal testosteronesex differencessocial development

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Biology

Background:

  • Prenatal and pubertal testicular androgens are linked to human behavior masculinization.
  • The role of early postnatal hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activation is less understood.
  • Previous primate studies suggested limited impact of early androgen surges on male behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavioral significance of transient activation of the HPG axis in early postnatal life.
  • To examine the relationship between early postnatal testosterone concentrations and later gender-linked behaviors.
  • To explore potential links between early testosterone levels and atypical social development.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed testosterone concentrations in male infants at 3-4 months of age.
  • Evaluated gender-linked behaviors, including toy choices and activity levels, in the second year of life.
  • Utilized parental ratings on a screening measure for autism spectrum disorder.

Main Results:

  • Early postnatal testosterone concentrations did not correlate with toy preferences or activity levels.
  • Higher testosterone levels at 3-4 months predicted reduced vocalization in toddlers.
  • Elevated early testosterone was associated with higher autism spectrum disorder screening scores.

Conclusions:

  • Transient activation of the HPG axis in early postnatal life may influence male social development.
  • Early testosterone levels might play a role in the development of typical and atypical male social relations.
  • Future research should consider gender-relevant behavioral outcomes, including sex-biased disorders, in studies on early hormone exposure.