title: Cortisol reactivity in two-year-old children prenatally exposed to methamphetamine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Until now, the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure (PME) had been unexamined. Previous research indicates that prenatal exposure to stimulant drugs is associated with dose-response alterations in neural growth and connectivity and consequent neurobehavioral deficits. In addition, children of drug-using parents are at an increased risk for exposure to chronic postnatal stress. In this preliminary study, we examined the associations of PME and postnatal environmental stress with cortisol stress reactivity in children with PME.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 2-year-old children (N = 123; 55.3% male) with PME from a multicenter longitudinal Infant, Development, Environment, and Lifestyle Study. Saliva samples were obtained before and after a stress-inducing separation task. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined prenatal drug exposure, methodological and postnatal stress covariates, and interactions between levels of PME and postnatal stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild to moderate potential for child physical abuse moderated increased cortisol reactivity in high exposed children with PME. Blunted cortisol reactivity was associated with caregiver's postnatal alcohol use, child's behavioral dysregulation, and the interaction between higher levels of PME and caregiver's psychopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with the known effects of stimulant drugs and chronically stressful environments on the HPA axis and, thus, the toxic stress and allostatic load phenomena, our results imply that elevated PME may be associated with alterations in the programming of the HPA axis reflecting hyperactivity, which under significant and chronic environmental stress then may become hypoactive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. namik-kirlic@utulsa.edu
authors.forename: Namik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kirlic
authors.forename: Elana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lagasse
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Derauf
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Amelia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arria
authors.forename: Marilyn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Huestis
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haning
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dellagrotta
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dansereau
authors.forename: Beau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abar
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lester
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D017028:Caregivers; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone