title: Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on pubertal development.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and pubertal development. Children (n=192; 41% with PCE) completed the Pubertal Development Scale (Petersen et al. 1988) and provided salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) samples at 6month intervals from 11 to 13years. PCE was examined as a predictor of pubertal status, pubertal tempo, and DHEA levels in mixed models analyses controlling for age, sex, environmental risk, neonatal medical problems, other prenatal exposures, and BMI. PCE interacted with age such that PCE predicted slower pubertal tempo during early adolescence. PCE also interacted with age to predict slower increases in DHEA levels during early adolescence. These findings suggest that PCE may affect pubertal development and, if slower pubertal tempo continues, could lead to delayed pubertal status in mid-adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, GLAD Program, 4700 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19144, United States. Electronic address: David.Bennett@Drexelmed.edu.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for the Study of Child Development, 89 French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States. Electronic address: Jennifmb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Birnkrant
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for the Study of Child Development, 89 French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States. Electronic address: Dennis.Carmody@Rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Carmody
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for the Study of Child Development, 89 French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States. Electronic address: Lewis@RWJMS.Rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Dehydroepi-androsterone; Prenatal cocaine exposure; Pubertal status; Pubertal tempo