Puberty-Related Changes in Cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone, and Estradiol-17β Secretions within the First Hour after Waking in Premenarcheal Girls

Abstract

Objective: The onset of menstruation is the hallmark of female pubertal development. The present study determined whether pubertal girls experience adrenocortical and ovarian steroid secretions within their first waking hour before getting their period, similar to those observed in adult females with regular cycles. Methods: Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and estradiol-17β concentrations were measured in saliva samples collected after awakening (0, 30, and 60 min after awakening) from 158 normal premenarcheal pubertal girls and 69 adult females with regular menstrual cycles. The girls were subgrouped according to self-reported Tanner breast (B) and pubic hair (PH) stages (B1PH1, B2PH1, B2PH2, B3PH1, and B3PH2). Results: All the subgroups showed a similar pattern of cortisol secretion. However, cortisol levels were higher in girls at B3PH1 and at B3PH2 than other subgroups. DHEA secretion showed a similar pattern across the groups examined. The largest increase in DHEA levels occurred between B1PH1 and B2PH1 stages, and further increased with pubertal progression. DHEA levels in girls at B3PH2 were approximately one half of the adult value. Estradiol-17β profiles in girls at B3PH1 and B3PH2 differed from those of other subgroups of girl. A sharp increase in estradiol-17β levels after awakening which observed in adult females emerged in girls at B3PH1 and B3PH2. However, the estradiol-17β levels did not reach adult values until B3PH2 stage. Conclusions: The progression of female puberty includes an increase in the levels of adrenocortical and ovarian steroid secretions and a gain of adult female-like patterns of estradiol-17β secretion within their first waking hour.

Endogenous cortisol in keratinized matrices: Systematic determination of baseline cortisol levels in hair and the influence of sex, age and hair color

“…A trend can be seen though to slight higher cortisol values in the older adolescents group which goes along with the fact of increasing cortisol levels with age. Additionally higher cortisol serum levels have been described in postpubertal children [18] However the effect of steroid hormones and pubertal timing is not clear yet . Pubertal timing is a complex process that cannot be generalized to one effect.…”

Improvement of Alopecia and Decreases in Hair Cortisol and Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations After the Topical Use of Plant Extracts in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia

“…To determine the CAR and testosterone, DHT, epitestosterone (Epi-T), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels during the post-awakening period, a set of saliva samples (immediately on awakening and 30 and 60 min after awakening) was consecutively collected from men with AGA (t0, t1, and t2) and at a single time point (t0) from hairy controls. Each participant was instructed on the procedures and precautions for saliva collection described in previous studies [32,33]. Each participant was also asked to submit their saliva samples at each scheduled visit for hair collection and collect their saliva samples on one of the working days, with a minimum volume of 1.5 ml of saliva provided at each time point.…”

“…The cortisol, testosterone, DHT, Epi-T, and DHEA concentrations in the collected hair and saliva samples were determined using radioimmunoassay by modifying the method used in previous studies [32,33]. DHT assays were conducted after the selective inactivation of testosterone with an aqueous potassium permanganate solution [38].…”

Salivary cortisol, cortisone and serum cortisol concentrations are related to age and body mass index in healthy children and young people

“…An increase in the ratio of salivary cortisol/cortisone during the first year of life, followed by stability throughout childhood and into young adult life, has been described, while salivary cortisol concentrations have variably been associated with sex, pubertal development and body mass index. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Adult studies have reported that salivary cortisone is a superior marker of serum cortisol than salivary cortisol, that salivary cortisol may be undetectable in healthy young men when serum cortisol concentrations fall below 74 nmol/L while salivary cortisone remains detectable, and that the use of salivary cortisone allows monitoring of hydrocortisone therapy without the risk of artificially elevated salivary cortisol concentrations due to saliva contamination with hydrocortisone. 7 It was the purpose of this study to determine, in the paediatric age group, which salivary biomarker correlated most strongly with serum cortisol, whether either was undetectable during waking hours and whether age and gender should be considered in the design of a study to generate reference data for use in clinical practice.…”

“…To our knowledge, there are few data describing salivary cortisone concentrations in healthy children. An increase in the ratio of salivary cortisol/cortisone during the first year of life, followed by stability throughout childhood and into young adult life, has been described, while salivary cortisol concentrations have variably been associated with sex, pubertal development and body mass index 8‐15 …”