Takahiko Mitsui1,2, Atsuko Araki3, Houman Goudarzi3,4, Chihiro Miyashita3, Sachiko Ito3, Seiko Sasaki5, Takeya Kitta2, Kimihiko Moriya2, Kazutoshi Cho6, Keita Morioka6, Reiko Kishi3, Nobuo Shinohara2, Masayuki Takeda1, Katsuya Nonomura7. 1. Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Chuo-City, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan. 2. Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. 3. Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan. 4. Division of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. 5. Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. 7. Department of Urology, Kushiro Rosai Hospital, Kushiro, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between steroid hormone levels in cord blood and birth weight. METHODS: Among 514 participants in a prospective birth cohort study in Sapporo, the following hormone levels were measured in 294 stored cord blood samples from 135 males and 159 females: androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and cortisone. Birth weight information was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Androstenedione/DHEA was significantly higher in males than in females, while DHEA was significantly higher in females. Birth weight was significantly higher in males than in females. Regarding cortisone, androstenedione/DHEA, and cortisone/cortisol, a correlation was observed with birth weight in males but not in females. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal adrenal steroids as well as converting enzymes such as 11ß-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and 3ß-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase may have an impact on prenatal physical development.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between steroid hormone levels in cord blood and birth weight. METHODS: Among 514 participants in a prospective birth cohort study in Sapporo, the following hormone levels were measured in 294 stored cord blood samples from 135 males and 159 females: androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and cortisone. Birth weight information was obtained from medical records. RESULTS:Androstenedione/DHEA was significantly higher in males than in females, while DHEA was significantly higher in females. Birth weight was significantly higher in males than in females. Regarding cortisone, androstenedione/DHEA, and cortisone/cortisol, a correlation was observed with birth weight in males but not in females. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal adrenal steroids as well as converting enzymes such as 11ß-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and 3ß-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase may have an impact on prenatal physical development.