BACKGROUND: Research has shown involvement of hormones of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis in the regulation of behaviors that contribute to SUD risk and its intergenerational transmission. Neighborhood environment has also been shown to relate to hormones of these two neuroendocrine systems and behaviors associated with SUD liability. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that (1) parental SUD severity and neighborhood quality correlate with activity of the HPG axis (testosterone level) and HPA axis (cortisol stability), and (2) transmissible risk during childhood mediates these hormone variables on development of SUD measured in adulthood. METHODS: Transmissible risk for SUD measured by the transmissible liability index (TLI; Vanyukov et al., 2009) along with saliva cortisol and plasma testosterone were prospectively measured in boys at ages 10-12 and 16. Neighborhood quality was measured using a composite score encompassing indicators of residential instability and economic disadvantage. SUD was assessed at age 22. RESULTS: Neither hormone variable cross-sectionally correlated with transmissible risk measured at ages 10-12 and 16. However, the TLI at age 10-12 predicted testosterone level and cortisol stability at age 16. Moreover, testosterone level, correlated with cortisol stability at age 16, predicted SUD at age 22. CONCLUSION: HPA and HPG axes activity do not underlie variation in TLI, however, high transmissible risk in childhood predicts neuroendocrine system activity presaging development of SUD.
BACKGROUND: Research has shown involvement of hormones of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis in the regulation of behaviors that contribute to SUD risk and its intergenerational transmission. Neighborhood environment has also been shown to relate to hormones of these two neuroendocrine systems and behaviors associated with SUD liability. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that (1) parental SUD severity and neighborhood quality correlate with activity of the HPG axis (testosterone level) and HPA axis (cortisol stability), and (2) transmissible risk during childhood mediates these hormone variables on development of SUD measured in adulthood. METHODS: Transmissible risk for SUD measured by the transmissible liability index (TLI; Vanyukov et al., 2009) along with saliva cortisol and plasma testosterone were prospectively measured in boys at ages 10-12 and 16. Neighborhood quality was measured using a composite score encompassing indicators of residential instability and economic disadvantage. SUD was assessed at age 22. RESULTS: Neither hormone variable cross-sectionally correlated with transmissible risk measured at ages 10-12 and 16. However, the TLI at age 10-12 predicted testosterone level and cortisol stability at age 16. Moreover, testosterone level, correlated with cortisol stability at age 16, predicted SUD at age 22. CONCLUSION:HPA and HPG axes activity do not underlie variation in TLI, however, high transmissible risk in childhood predicts neuroendocrine system activity presaging development of SUD.
Authors: Ralph E Tarter; Diana Fishbein; Levent Kirisci; Ada Mezzich; Ty Ridenour; Michael Vanyukov Journal: Addiction Date: 2011-05-03 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: J N Constantino; D Grosz; P Saenger; D W Chandler; R Nandi; F J Earls Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1993-11 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Graeme Fairchild; Luca Passamonti; Georgina Hurford; Cindy C Hagan; Elisabeth A H von dem Hagen; Stephanie H M van Goozen; Ian M Goodyer; Andrew J Calder Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Ty A Ridenour; Maureen Reynolds; Ola Ahlqvist; Zu Wei Zhai; Levent Kirisci; Michael M Vanyukov; Ralph E Tarter Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 3.829