Plasma androgens in autism.
Plasma levels of testosterone and the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured in male autistic subjects (31 prepubertal, 8 postpubertal), mentally retarded/cognitively impaired subjects (MR, 12 prepubertal), and normal control subjects (NC, 10 prepubertal, 11 postpubertal). Mean levels of plasma testosterone were similar in the postpubertal autistic (4.54 +/- 1.12 ng/ml) and postpubertal NC (5.02 +/- 1.87 ng/ml) groups. Plasma DHEA-S levels in postpubertal autistic (2170 +/- 1020 ng/ml) and postpubertal NC (1850 +/- 777 ng/ml) groups also were not significantly different. Similarly, no significant group differences were seen for testosterone or DHEA-S in the prepubertal autistic, MR, or NC individuals, although prepubertal MR individuals with cerebral palsy did have increased plasma DHEA-S levels compared to age-matched MR or NC individuals. Significant negative correlations were found between testosterone and whole blood serotonin (5-HT) levels in the combined (all subjects, all ages) groups and in the autistic group, suggesting that the effect of puberty on whole blood 5-HT may deserve further study. Data indicate that altered secretion of the androgens is not a common feature of autism. However, abnormalities of adrenal androgen secretion may be present in individuals with cerebral palsy.
Tordjman
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Université de Paris-Sud, France.
Anderson
G M
GM
McBride
P A
PA
Hertzig
M E
ME
Snow
M E
ME
Hall
L M
LM
Ferrari
P
P
Cohen
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D012701:Serotonin; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate