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Androgenic and estrogenic indices in human newborns and infants: the MIREC-ID study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2019

T-V. Nguyen Open the ORCID record for T-V. Nguyen [Opens in a new window] ,
P. Monnier ,
G. Muckle ,
S. Sathyanarayana ,
E. Ouellet ,
M. P. Velez ,
L. Dodds  and
T. E. Arbuckle
T-V. Nguyen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
P. Monnier
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
G. Muckle
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec CHU Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
S. Sathyanarayana
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
E. Ouellet
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec CHU Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
M. P. Velez
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
L. Dodds
Affiliation:
Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
T. E. Arbuckle
Affiliation:
Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: T-V. Nguyen, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, 1001 Decarie, C6.1188 Suite, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada. E-mail: tuong.v.nguyen@mcgill.ca
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Abstract

Prenatal sex steroid exposure plays an important role in determining child development. Yet, measurement of prenatal hormonal exposure has been limited by the paucity of newborn/infant data and the invasiveness of fetal hormonal sampling. Here we provide descriptive data from the MIREC-ID study (n=173 girls; 162 boys) on a range of minimally invasive physical indices thought to reflect prenatal exposure to androgens [anogenital distances (AGDs); penile length/width, scrotal/vulvar pigmentation], to estrogens [vaginal maturation index (VMI) – the degree of maturation of vaginal wall cells] or to both androgens/estrogens [2nd-to-4th digit ratio (2D:4D); areolar pigmentation, triceps/sub-scapular skinfold thickness, arm circumference]. VMI was found to be associated with triceps skinfold thickness (β=0.265, P=0.005), suggesting that this marker may be sensitive to estrogen levels produced by adipose tissue in girls. Both estrogenic and androgenic markers (VMI: β=0.338, P=0.031; 2D:4D – right: β=−0.207, P=0.040; left: β=−0.276, P=0.006; AGD-fourchette − β=0.253, P=0.036) were associated with areolar pigmentation in girls, supporting a role for the latter as an index of both androgen and estrogen exposure. We also found AGD-penis (distance from the anus to the penis) to be associated with scrotal pigmentation (β=0.290, P=0.048), as well as right arm circumference (β=0.462, P<0.0001), supporting the notion that these indices may be used together as markers of androgen exposure in boys. In sum, these findings support the use of several physical indices at birth to convey a more comprehensive picture of prenatal exposure to sex hormones.

Keywords

birthgonadal hormonespregnancysex differencessex steroids
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 10 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 578 - 586
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2019 

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