title: Relation among HPA and HPG neuroendocrine systems, transmissible risk and neighborhood quality on development of substance use disorder: results of a 10-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has shown involvement of hormones of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis in the regulation of behaviors that contribute to SUD risk and its intergenerational transmission. Neighborhood environment has also been shown to relate to hormones of these two neuroendocrine systems and behaviors associated with SUD liability. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that (1) parental SUD severity and neighborhood quality correlate with activity of the HPG axis (testosterone level) and HPA axis (cortisol stability), and (2) transmissible risk during childhood mediates these hormone variables on development of SUD measured in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transmissible risk for SUD measured by the transmissible liability index (TLI; Vanyukov et al., 2009) along with saliva cortisol and plasma testosterone were prospectively measured in boys at ages 10-12 and 16. Neighborhood quality was measured using a composite score encompassing indicators of residential instability and economic disadvantage. SUD was assessed at age 22.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither hormone variable cross-sectionally correlated with transmissible risk measured at ages 10-12 and 16. However, the TLI at age 10-12 predicted testosterone level and cortisol stability at age 16. Moreover, testosterone level, correlated with cortisol stability at age 16, predicted SUD at age 22.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPA and HPG axes activity do not underlie variation in TLI, however, high transmissible risk in childhood predicts neuroendocrine system activity presaging development of SUD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3520 Forbes Avenue, Parkvale Annex, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. tarter@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Ralph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tarter
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kirisci
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirillova
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gavaler
authors.forename: Ty
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ridenour
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanyukov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone