Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Analysis of baseline hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in late adolescence reveals gender specific sensitivity of the stress axis

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Reynolds, R.
    Hii, H.
    Pennell, C.
    McKeague, I.
    de Kloet, E.R.
    Lye, S.
    Stanley, F.
    Mattes, E.
    Foster, Jonathan
    Date
    2013
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Reynolds, Rebecca M. and Hii, Hilary L. and Pennell, Craig E. and McKeague, Ian W. and de Kloet, E. Ron and Lye, Stephen and Stanley, Fiona J. and Mattes, Eugen and Foster, Jonathan K. 2013. Analysis of baseline hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in late adolescence reveals gender specific sensitivity of the stress axis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38 (8): pp. 1271-1280.
    Source Title
    Psychoneuroendocrinology
    DOI
    10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.11.010
    ISSN
    03064530
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13594
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Dysfunctional regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed as an important biological mechanism underlying stress-related diseases; however, a better understanding of the interlinked neuroendocrine events driving the release of cortisol by this stress axis is essential for progress in preventing or halting irreversible development of adverse HPA-function. We aimed to investigate basal HPA-activity in a normal population in late adolescence, the time of life believed to overlap with HPA-axis maturation and establishment of a lasting set point level of HPA function. A total of 1258 participants (mean age 16.6 years) recruited from the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort provided fasting morning blood and saliva samples for basal HPA activity assessment. Irrespective of gender, linear regression modelling identified a positive correlation between the main components of the HPA-cascade of events, ACTH, total cortisol and free cortisol in saliva. Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) was inversely associated with free cortisol in saliva, an effect most clearly observed in boys.ACTH levels were lower, but cortisol levels were higher in girls than in boys. Girls may also be exposed to more bioactive cortisol, based on higher average free cortisol measured in saliva at awakening. These relatively higher female free cortisol levels were significantly reduced by oral contraceptive use, eliminating the gender specific difference in salivary cortisol. Free plasma cortisol, calculated from total circulating cortisol and CBG concentrations, was also significantly reduced in girls using oral contraceptives, possibly via an enhancing effect of oral contraceptives on blood CBG content. This study highlights a clear gender difference in HPA activity under non-stressful natural conditions. This finding may be relevant for research into sex-specific stress-related diseases with a typical onset in late adolescence.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Lumbo-pelvic motor control in adolescents with and without low back pain
      Astfalck, Roslyn G (2009)
      The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in the adolescent population is high, with rates approaching adult levels. It has previously been shown that those with LBP during adolescence are at greater risk of experiencing LBP ...
    • Characterization and novel analyses of acute stress response patterns in a population-based cohort of young adults: Influence of gender, smoking, and BMI
      Herbison, C.; Henley, D.; Marsh, J.; Atkinson, Helen; Newnham, J.; Matthews, S.; Lye, S.; Pennell, C. (2016)
      © 2016 Taylor & Francis. Dysregulation of the biological stress response system has been implicated in the development of psychological, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease. Whilst changes in stress response are often ...
    • Time pressure and the wellbeing of parents with young children in Australia
      Johnson, Sarah E. (2010)
      Parental time pressure, in terms of actual workload and subjective reports, is high and likely to increase in the future, with ongoing implications for personal wellbeing. The combination of parenting young children and ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.