Pituitary lacks sexual dimorphism and displays reduced signal intensity on T1-weighted MRI in adolescents with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can interfere with endocrine function and have sex-specific effects on behavior. Disrupted development of the pituitary gland, which has been observed in rodent studies, may account for some of these effects. To determine if gestational exposure to alcohol produces measureable changes in the pituitary in human adolescents, we manually traced the pituitary in T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance images (MRI) from adolescents with (15 males, 11 females) and without (16 males, 11 females) heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Pituitary gland volume and maximum signal intensity were examined for group differences. Control female adolescents presented with significantly greater pituitary volume compared to males, as has been previously reported. However, this sexual dimorphism was absent in adolescents with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol-exposed adolescents, regardless of sex, demonstrated reduced pituitary maximum signal intensity compared to controls. The lack of a sex difference in pituitary volumes within the alcohol-exposed group suggests such exposure may interfere with adolescent typical sexual dimorphism of the pituitary. Signal intensity in the posterior pituitary may reflect vasopressin storage. Our findings suggest vasopressin activity should be evaluated in alcohol-exposed adolescents.
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, United States; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States. Electronic address: eimoore@mail.sdsu.edu.
Eileen M
EM
Moore
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, United States; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120, United States.
M Alejandra
MA
Infante
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, United States; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120, United States.
Robyn
R
Migliorini
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, United States; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States.
Sarah N
SN
Mattson
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, United States; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States.
Edward P
EP
Riley
D000293:Adolescent; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000473:pathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D000431:Ethanol
Alcohol; Fetal; Pituitary; Prenatal; Sex