OBJECTIVES: Although cortisol (CORT) may suppress testosterone (T) production under stress, in many species males' T and CORT are co-elevated during mate acquisition or conspecific competition. It is presently unknown how CORT co-varies with T in relation to fatherhood/relationship status in men. Here we evaluate associations between waking (AM) and pre-bed (PM) salivary CORT and T, and with plasma total T and luteinizing hormone. We also test whether co-elevationor co-downregulation of CORT and T are present in men who are mating-oriented (non-pairbonded, non-fathers) and parenting-oriented (pairbonded and/or fathers), respectively. METHODS: Data come from 630 of young adult Filipino males (21-23 years) enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, a population-based birth cohort study in Cebu City, Philippines. RESULTS: T and CORT were positively related in AM (r = 0.37) and PM (r = 0.30) saliva samples (both P < 0.001). The positive relationship between AM measures was strengthened as caloric intake improved (interaction P < 0.05). Mating-oriented men were more likely to have co-elevated PM CORT and T (P < 0.05), defined as being in the highest tertile for both hormones, while parenting-oriented men were more likely to have co-downregulated (lowest tertile for both hormones) AM (P < 0.05) and PM (P < 0.001) CORT and T. CONCLUSIONS: CORT and T are positively related upon waking and before bed and are more likely to be co-elevated in mating-oriented men and co-downregulated in parenting-oriented men. Our findings support the interpretation that CORT and T serve complementary roles in facilitating men's mating effort.
OBJECTIVES: Although cortisol (CORT) may suppress testosterone (T) production under stress, in many species males' T and CORT are co-elevated during mate acquisition or conspecific competition. It is presently unknown how CORT co-varies with T in relation to fatherhood/relationship status in men. Here we evaluate associations between waking (AM) and pre-bed (PM) salivary CORT and T, and with plasma total T and luteinizing hormone. We also test whether co-elevationor co-downregulation of CORT and T are present in men who are mating-oriented (non-pairbonded, non-fathers) and parenting-oriented (pairbonded and/or fathers), respectively. METHODS: Data come from 630 of young adult Filipino males (21-23 years) enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, a population-based birth cohort study in Cebu City, Philippines. RESULTS: T and CORT were positively related in AM (r = 0.37) and PM (r = 0.30) saliva samples (both P < 0.001). The positive relationship between AM measures was strengthened as caloric intake improved (interaction P < 0.05). Mating-oriented men were more likely to have co-elevated PM CORT and T (P < 0.05), defined as being in the highest tertile for both hormones, while parenting-oriented men were more likely to have co-downregulated (lowest tertile for both hormones) AM (P < 0.05) and PM (P < 0.001) CORT and T. CONCLUSIONS:CORT and T are positively related upon waking and before bed and are more likely to be co-elevated in mating-oriented men and co-downregulated in parenting-oriented men. Our findings support the interpretation that CORT and T serve complementary roles in facilitating men's mating effort.
Authors: David A Puts; Lauramarie E Pope; Alexander K Hill; Rodrigo A Cárdenas; Lisa L M Welling; John R Wheatley; S Marc Breedlove Journal: Horm Behav Date: 2015-01-30 Impact factor: 3.587
Authors: Emily S Barrett; Van Tran; Sally W Thurston; Hanne Frydenberg; Susan F Lipson; Inger Thune; Peter T Ellison Journal: Am J Hum Biol Date: 2015-03-07 Impact factor: 1.937