Adrenarche in comparative perspective

Campbell, Benjamin

doi:10.1002/ajhb.21111

Cited by 46 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…Adrenarche occurs at around the age of weaning in great apes: bonobos wean after four years [22] with increases in adrenal androgens after five years [23]; orangutans wean after seven years [24] with increases in adrenal androgens after eight years [25]. Campbell noted that increased production of adrenal androgens accompanies independence from mothers at weaning in rodents and monkeys but occurs much later than weaning in humans [26]. Early hominins were probably weaned at adrenarche as occurs in other great apes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Phases in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Evolutionary and Clinical Interpretations

Kotler¹,

Balko²,

Berall³

et al. 2016

J Evol Med

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Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by a lack of expression of paternally-expressed imprinted genes at human chromosome 15q11-13 and is characterized by a switch from infant anorexia to childhood hyperphagia. A recent multiphase staging system recognizes gradual changes between the anorexic and hyperphagic phases of PWS. We undertook to use clinical records from an independent population to assess the multiphase system and explore the implications for the evolution of distinctive features of human childhood. Medical records of 258 clinic visits by 55 patients with PWS were reviewed with a focus on appetite and feeding. These clinical records were found to be inadequate for placing patients into particular phases of the multiphase system. Under the multiphase system, the onset of hyperphagia in PWS appears to coincide more with the timing of adrenarche than weaning from the breast and this timing should frame future evolutionary hypotheses. We discuss challenges encountered while attempting to use clinical data to explore evolutionary questions, but also identify useful information contained in the records.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Phases in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Evolutionary and Clinical Interpretations

Kotler¹,

Balko²,

Berall³

et al. 2016

J Evol Med

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“…Given the neurobiological effects of DHEA and DHEAS in primates and other species (Maninger et al 2009), it has been proposed that the evolution of adrenarche extended the maturation of the human brain (Campbell 2011). If this is true, then correlations between the onset (adrenarche) of adrenal androgen secretion and brain development would be expected across NHP.…”

Section: Evolution Of Adrenarchementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It should also be recognized that adrenal androgen secretion of physiological significance is not unique to primates (Boonstra et al 2011) and may be very transient in other species (Pignatelli et al 2006). Adrenarche has been the subject of numerous reviews (Parker et al 1978, Havelock et al 2004, Campbell 2006, 2011, Nader 2007, Belgorosky et al 2008, Miller 2009, Conley et al 2011a) but seldom has the evidence for or against its occurrence in the NHP been reviewed objectively.…”

Section: Clinical Significance Of Adrenarchementioning

confidence: 99%

Adrenarche in nonhuman primates: the evidence for it and the need to redefine it

Conley¹,

Bernstein²,

Nguyen³

2012

Journal of Endocrinology

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Adrenarche is most commonly defined as a prepubertal increase in circulating adrenal androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfo-conjugate (DHEAS). This event is thought to have evolved in humans and some great apes but not in Old World monkeys, perhaps to promote brain development. Whether adrenarche represents a shared, derived developmental event in humans and our closest relatives, adrenal androgen secretion (and its regulation) is of considerable clinical interest. Specifically, adrenal androgens play a significant role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian disease and breast and prostate cancers. Understanding the development of androgen secretion by the human adrenal cortex and identifying a suitable model for its study are therefore of central importance for clinical and evolutionary concerns. This review will examine the evidence for adrenarche in nonhuman primates (NHP) and suggest that a broader definition of this developmental event is needed, including morphological, biochemical, and endocrine criteria. Using such a definition, evidence from recent studies suggests that adrenarche evolved in Old World primates but spans a relatively brief period early in development compared with humans and some great apes. This emphasizes the need for frequent longitudinal sampling in evaluating developmental changes in adrenal androgen secretion as well as the tenuous nature of existing evidence of adrenarche in some species among the great apes. Central to an understanding of the regulation of adrenal androgen production in humans is the recognition of the complex nature of adrenarche and the need for more carefully conducted comparative studies and a broader definition in order to promote investigation among NHP in particular.

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“…From the evolutionary perspective, it has been suggested that adrenarche is a key component of 'juvenility', a period that emerges during evolution in the late Hominids and prolongs the transition from childhood to adolescence and adult life; juvenility may serve the adaptation of body composition and metabolic status to environmental conditions (10,11). Another interesting hypothesis refers to the neuromodulatory effects of DHEAS that may help to protect more metabolically active regions of the cerebral cortex to support brain maturation in the developing prepubertal child (12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Premature adrenarche: novel lessons from early onset androgen excess

Idkowiak

Lavery

Dhir

et al. 2011

European Journal of Endocrinology

110

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Adrenarche reflects the maturation of the adrenal zona reticularis resulting in increased secretion of the adrenal androgen precursor DHEA and its sulphate ester DHEAS. Premature adrenarche (PA) is defined by increased levels of DHEA and DHEAS before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys and the concurrent presence of signs of androgen action including adult-type body odour, oily skin and hair and pubic hair growth. PA is distinct from precocious puberty, which manifests with the development of secondary sexual characteristics including testicular growth and breast development. Idiopathic PA (IPA) has long been considered an extreme of normal variation, but emerging evidence links IPA to an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome (MS) and thus ultimately cardiovascular morbidity. Areas of controversy include the question whether IPA in girls is associated with a higher rate of progression to the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and whether low birth weight increases the risk of developing IPA. The recent discoveries of two novel monogenic causes of early onset androgen excess, apparent cortisone reductase deficiency and apparent DHEA sulphotransferase deficiency, support the notion that PA may represent a forerunner condition for PCOS. Future research including carefully designed longitudinal studies is required to address the apparent link between early onset androgen excess and the development of insulin resistance and the MS.

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Adrenarche in comparative perspective

Cited by 46 publications

References 110 publications

Nutritional Phases in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Evolutionary and Clinical Interpretations

Nutritional Phases in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Evolutionary and Clinical Interpretations

Adrenarche in nonhuman primates: the evidence for it and the need to redefine it

Premature adrenarche: novel lessons from early onset androgen excess

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