title: Neuroprotective-neurotrophic effect of endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate during intense stress exposure.
abstract: Recent reports demonstrate neurotrophic properties of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in men at rest, as well as profound neurotrophic responses to stress in both men and women. Little is known of neuroprotective-neurotrophic effects of DHEAS during stress exposure, either in men or women. This translational study was designed to examine neuroprotective-neurotrophic effects of DHEAS throughout intense stress exposure in healthy men and women. The study took place within a stressful 12-day military survival course. Utilizing a longitudinal cross-sectional repeated measures design, One hundred sixteen healthy active-duty military personnel (80% male) were studied before, during, and 24h after the course. The dependent variable was the neurotrophin salivary nerve growth factor (sNGF). In terms of total hormone output, the effect of DHEAS on sNGF was mediated by testosterone. Unlike testosterone or cortisol, DHEAS reliably predicted sNGF at each time point, and change in DHEAS predicted change in sNGF across time points. Baseline DHEAS predicted total sNGF output across the stress trajectory. Consistent with preclinical as well as cross-sectional human research, this study demonstrates neuroprotective-neurotrophic effects of DHEAS in healthy men and women exposed to intense stress. Results are evaluated in relation to established criteria for causation.
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States; Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: Marc.Taylor@med.navy.mil.
authors.forename: Marcus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States.
authors.forename: Heidemarie K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Mitchell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rauh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States; Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Granger
mesh_terms: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; DHEA sulfate; Nerve growth factor; Neurotrophin; Stress; Testosterone