scholarly journals Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy are associated with offspring size at birth

2006 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Carlsen ◽  
G Jacobsen ◽  
P Romundstad

Objective: Animal studies have indicated that maternal androgen levels influence the intrauterine environment and development of the offspring. Human data are missing. We therefore investigated the possible association between maternal androgens and offspring size at birth in humans. Design: A random sample of parous Caucasian women (n = 147) was followed prospectively through pregnancy. Methods: Maternal serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured at gestational weeks 17 and 33. The main outcome measures were weight and length at birth. Associations between maternal androgen levels and offspring birth weight and length were investigated using multiple linear regression modeling adjusted for potential confounding by maternal height, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking, parity, offspring gender and gestational age at birth. Results: Elevated maternal testosterone levels at week 17 and 33 were both associated with lower birth weights and lengths. Accordingly, at week 17, an increase in maternal testosterone levels from the 25th to the 75th percentile was associated with a decrease in birth weight by 160 g (95% confidence interval (CI); 29–290 g), while at week 33 that estimate was 115 g (95% CI; 21–207 g). No similar associations were observed for DHEAS, androstenedione or SHBG. Conclusions: Elevated maternal testosterone levels during human pregnancy are associated with growth restriction in utero. Our results support animal studies, which have indicated that maternal androgen levels influence intrauterine offspring environment and development.

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 280-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Voegtline ◽  
K. A. Costigan ◽  
K. T. Kivlighan ◽  
J. L. Henderson ◽  
J. A. DiPietro

Associations between maternal salivary testosterone at 36 weeks’ gestation with birth weight and infant weight gain through 6 months of age were examined in a group of 49 healthy, pregnant women and their offspring. The diurnal decline of maternal testosterone was conserved in late pregnancy, and levels showed significant day-to-day stability. Elevated maternal morning testosterone level was associated with lower birth weight Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex, and greater infant weight gain between birth and 6 months. Although maternal testosterone levels did not differ by fetal sex, relations were sex-specific such that maternal testosterone had a significant impact on weight for male infants; among female infants associations were nonsignificant. Results highlight the opposing influence of maternal androgens during pregnancy on decreased growth in utero and accelerated postnatal weight gain.


Author(s):  
Clive J Petry ◽  
Keith A Burling ◽  
Peter Barker ◽  
Ieuan A Hughes ◽  
Ken K Ong ◽  
...  

Abstract Context DLK1 (delta like non-canonical notch ligand 1) is a paternally-expressed imprinted gene that encodes an epidermal growth factor repeat-containing transmembrane protein. A bioactive, truncated DLK1 protein is present in the circulation, and has roles in development and metabolism. Objective We sought to investigate links between maternal pregnancy circulating DLK1 concentrations and: (1) maternal and fetal DLK1 genotypes, (2) maternal insulin resistance and secretion and (3) offspring size at birth. Patients, design and setting We measured third trimester maternal serum DLK1 concentrations and examined their associations with parentally-transmitted fetal and maternal DLK1 genotypes, indices of maternal insulin resistance and secretion derived from 75g oral glucose tolerance tests performed around week 28 of pregnancy, and offspring size at birth in 613 pregnancies from the Cambridge Baby Growth Study. Results Maternal DLK1 concentrations were associated with the paternally-transmitted fetal DLK1 rs12147008 allele (p=7.8x10 -3) but not with maternal rs12147008 genotype (p=0.4). Maternal DLK1 concentrations were positively associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (p=3.5x10 6), and (after adjustment for maternal BMI) with both maternal fasting insulin resistance (HOMA IR: p=0.01) and measures of maternal insulin secretion in response to oral glucose (insulinogenic index: p=1.2x10 -3; insulin disposition index: p=0.049). Further positive associations were found with offspring weight (p=0.02) and head circumference at birth (p=0.04). Conclusion These results are consistent with a partial paternal or placental origin for the maternal circulating DLK1 which may lead to increased maternal circulating DLK1 concentrations, stimulation of maternal insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia during pregnancy, and the promotion of fetal growth.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUFENG XU ◽  
Li-Juan Sun ◽  
Mei-Ling Yang ◽  
Yun Liao ◽  
Yuan Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Testosterone is an important sex hormone which participates in many physiological processes. However, there is conflicting evidence on effect of testosterone on fetal development. We aim to investigate the associations between maternal testosterone levels and pregnancy outcomes.Design and Methods We conducted a prospective cohort in a university-affiliated hospital. A total of 1,087 singleton pregnant women were included in the study. They were followed-up until delivery. The primary outcome was birth weight. The second outcomes were the prevalence of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, and low APGAR score (<7).Results We did not observe any significant association between maternal testosterone level and birth weight after adjustment. Prevalence of medical complications was also not associated with maternal testosterone levels.Conclusions Maternal testosterone levels during pregnancy is not associated with birth weights as well as the prevalence of medical complications.


1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (3_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S144 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. SINNECKER ◽  
E. LUDWIG ◽  
A. KRENZ ◽  
R.P. WILLIG

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoo Jinie Kim ◽  
Seung Han Shin ◽  
Eun Sun Lee ◽  
Young Hwa Jung ◽  
Young Ah Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractPrematurity, size at birth, and postnatal growth are important factors that determine cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes later in life. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the associations between the size at birth and growth velocity after birth with cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Fifty-six preterm infants born at < 32 weeks of gestation or having a birth weight of < 1500 g were enrolled and categorized into small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) groups. Anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters were assessed at school-age, and the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) was used for assessing the intellectual abilities. The growth velocity was calculated by changes in the weight z-score at each time period. Multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the associations of growth velocity at different periods with cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Forty-two (75%) were classified as AGA and 25% as SGA. At school-age, despite the SGA children showing significantly lower body weight, lean mass index, and body mass index, there were no differences in the cardiometabolic parameters between SGA and AGA groups. After adjusting for gestational age, birth weight z-score, weight z-score change from birth to discharge and sex, change in weight z-score beyond 12 months were associated with a higher systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and insulin resistance. Full-scale intelligent quotient (β = 0.314, p = 0.036) and perceptional reasoning index (β = 0.456, p = 0.003) of K-WISC-IV were positively correlated with postnatal weight gain in the neonatal intensive care unit. Although cardiometabolic outcomes were comparable in preterm SGA and AGA infants, the growth velocity at different time periods resulted in different cardiometabolic and neurocognitive outcomes. Thus, ensuring an optimal growth velocity at early neonatal period could promote good neurocognitive outcomes, while adequate growth after 1 year could prevent adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in preterm infants.


1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 678-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y H Neggers ◽  
G R Cutter ◽  
R T Acton ◽  
J O Alvarez ◽  
J L Bonner ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 1491-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda P. Dasanayake ◽  
Doryck Boyd ◽  
Phoebus N. Madianos ◽  
Steven Offenbacher ◽  
Ed Hills

1986 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Chandrasekhar ◽  
M. J. D'Occhio ◽  
B. P. Setchell

ABSTRACT This study aimed to obtain a better understanding of the relationship between circulating thyroxine (T4) concentrations and reproductive endocrine function in the ram. Mature Merino rams were thyroidectomized and supplemented with 0, 30, 100 and 300% of normal T4 for 10 weeks. Thyroidectomy had no apparent effect on spermatogenic function but interfered with sperm maturation, the latter being returned to normal by 30% T4 replacement. Circulating testosterone levels were reduced by thyroidectomy and restored to control levels by 30% T4; when T4 levels were supranormal (300%), circulating testosterone levels were again reduced. The lowered circulating testosterone levels in thyroidectomized rams occurred as a result of suppressed testosterone secretion from the testis, observed under basal conditions and also following LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin injection. In thyroidectomized rams, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were depressed without changes in testosterone clearance rate (TCR), while in rams with supranormal T4 levels, TCR was increased without changes in SHBG levels. Subnormal levels of T4 also restored to normal the reduced LH pulse frequency in thyroidectomized rams. Reduced LH pulse frequency, together with diminished LH release following LHRH injection in thyroidectomized rams, suggested effects of T4 at the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. The present study demonstrates that complete lack of thyroid hormones suppresses normal reproductive endocrine function in the ram, but that this can be restored to normal by 30% T4 replacement. The results support the theory that T4 plays a permissive rather than a regulatory role in reproductive function in males. J. Endocr. (1986) 111, 245–253


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