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Published on: March 5, 2020
Effects of prenatal sex hormones on behavioral sexual dimorphism
Takahiko Mitsui1,2, Atsuko Araki3, Chihiro Miyashita3
1Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi Graduate School of Medical Science, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
Insights
Prenatal hormone exposure may influence gender-typed play in girls, with cord blood levels of progesterone and estradiol/testosterone ratios correlating with feminine behavior. Prenatal hormone levels may not fully reflect the prenatal environment.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Investigating the prenatal hormone environment's impact on childhood behavior.
- Utilizing cord blood samples to assess prenatal hormone exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between prenatal sex hormone levels and gender-role play behavior in school-aged children.
- To explore potential sex differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Prospective birth cohort study of 879 children.
- Analysis of cord blood levels of estradiol (E), testosterone (T), progesterone (P), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
- Assessment of gender-typed behavior using the Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI).
Main Results:
- Boys exhibited higher composite and masculine PSAI scores, and lower feminine scores.
- Boys had higher testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) levels; girls had a higher estradiol/testosterone (E/T) ratio.
- In girls, progesterone (P) and estradiol/testosterone (E/T) were positively correlated with feminine scores, after controlling for social factors.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal sex hormone exposure may influence sex-differentiated brain development and behavior in girls.
- Cord blood hormone levels might not completely represent the prenatal hormonal milieu.
Background:
We investigated the association between the hormone environment during the prenatal period using cord blood, and gender-role play behavior in school-aged children.
Methods:
A total of 879 school-aged children (433 boys and 446 girls) in a prospective birth cohort study in Hokkaido were enrolled to analyze the relationship between cord blood level of the sex hormones estradiol (E), testosterone (T), progesterone (P), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and the Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI) score. The PSAI evaluated sex-typical characteristics, the type of preferred toys and play activities. The PSAI consists of 12 masculine and 12 feminine items, and the composite scores were calculated by subtracting the feminine score from the masculine score. Higher scores indicated male-typical behavior.
Results:
Composite and masculine PSAI scores were significantly higher in boys. Meanwhile, the feminine score was significantly lower in boys. Although T and P were significantly higher in boys, E/T was significantly higher in girls. In a multivariate regression model, including covariates of social factors, there was no correlation between any of the hormones and PSAI score in boys. In girls, only P and E/T were positively correlated with the feminine score.
Conclusions:
Prenatal sex hormone exposure may influence the dimorphic brain development and behavior in school-aged girls. Furthermore, the cord blood hormone levels may not fully reflect the hormone environment during the prenatal period.
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