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Sexual dimorphism in cortisol metabolism throughout pubertal development: a longitudinal study
Britt J van Keulen1, Conor V Dolan2, Bibian van der Voorn3
1Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pediatric Endocrinology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Endocrine Connections
|May 16, 2020
Summary
Sexual dimorphism in cortisol metabolism emerges during puberty, with distinct changes in enzyme activity observed in girls compared to boys. These pubertal shifts in cortisol regulation may influence sex differences in disease susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Sex differences in disease susceptibility are linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
- Sexual dimorphism in HPA axis activity is thought to emerge during puberty.
- Previous studies lacked detailed assessment of pubertal development stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pubertal development in sexual dimorphism of cortisol production and metabolism.
- To compare cortisol parameters between sexes across different Tanner pubertal stages.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study (n=218) from the Netherlands Twin Register.
- Assessment of Tanner pubertal stage and collection of urine samples at ages 9, 12, and 17 years.
- Measurement of cortisol metabolites using GC-MS/MS to determine enzyme activities (A-ring reductases, 11β-HSDs, CYP3A4).
Main Results:
- Cortisol metabolite excretion decreased with pubertal maturation in both sexes.
- A-ring reductase activity was lower in late-pubertal girls compared to boys.
- 11β-HSDs activity favored cortisone production in girls during early and late puberty.
Conclusions:
- Cortisol parameters were similar between sexes before puberty.
- Pubertal development leads to distinct changes in cortisol metabolism in girls versus boys.
- Rising sex steroids or puberty-induced body composition changes may explain observed sexual dimorphism in cortisol.
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