title: Coupling of the HPA and HPG axes in the context of early life adversity in incarcerated male adolescents.
abstract: The effects of early life adversity can be observed across the lifespan, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes could be mechanistic intermediaries underlying this phenomenon. The current study examined 50 adolescent males aged 12-18 in a maximum-security correctional and treatment setting. Saliva samples were collected five times a day for 2 days and assayed for cortisol, testosterone, and DHEA. Youth completed semi-structured life stress interviews and self-reports of child maltreatment to index adversity. When youth had higher testosterone levels, they had higher cortisol and DHEA levels, indicating positive "coupling" of the HPA-HPG axes. In addition, children experiencing greater life adversity had tighter coupling of the HPA-HPG axes. Additional analyses hint that coupling may be driven largely by HPG axis functioning. Results indicate that positive coupling of the HPA-HPG axis is observed within incarcerated adolescents, especially for those with the greatest life stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. dismukes@iastate.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dismukes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Development, University of California, Berkeley, CA.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vitacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iturri
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shirtcliff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002649:Child Abuse; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D011329:Prisoners; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: DHEA; HLM; HPA; HPG; adolescence; cortisol; dual-axis; stress; testosterone