Harden K Paige, Wrzus Cornelia, Luong Gloria, Grotzinger Andrew, Bajbouj Malek, Rauers Antje, Wagner Gert G, Riediger Michaela
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Psychological Institute, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016 Nov;73:79-90. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.07.216. Epub 2016 Jul 22.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes are typically conceptualized as mutually inhibitory systems; however, previous studies have found evidence for positive within-person associations (i.e., coupling) between cortisol and testosterone. One developmental hypothesis is that positive testosterone-cortisol coupling is unique to the adolescent period and that coupling becomes attenuated, or even switches direction, in adulthood. This study used a lifespan sample (N=292, ages 11-88) to test for age-related differences in coupling between cortisol and testosterone in daily life. Participants provided salivary hormone samples at waking, 30min after waking, and during the evening for two days. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the within-person and between-person associations between testosterone and cortisol. Within-person associations were further decomposed into associations due to coupled diurnal change versus coupled variability around diurnal change. Results indicated positive associations between cortisol and testosterone at all levels of analysis. Additionally, positive coupling was evident across the lifespan, even in older adults who are no longer expected to reproduce, but further investigation of developmental differences with a larger sample is necessary. Potential mechanisms and functions for positive coupling are discussed.
下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴和下丘脑-垂体-性腺（HPG）轴通常被认为是相互抑制的系统；然而，先前的研究已经发现了皮质醇与睾酮之间存在个体内正向关联（即耦合）的证据。一种发育假说认为，睾酮-皮质醇正向耦合是青春期特有的，并且在成年期这种耦合会减弱，甚至转变方向。本研究使用了一个涵盖整个生命周期的样本（N = 292，年龄在11 - 88岁之间）来测试日常生活中皮质醇与睾酮耦合的年龄相关差异。参与者在两天的时间里，于醒来时、醒来后30分钟以及晚上提供唾液激素样本。采用分层线性模型来测试睾酮与皮质醇之间的个体内和个体间关联。个体内关联进一步分解为因昼夜变化耦合与昼夜变化周围变异性耦合而产生的关联。结果表明，在所有分析层面上，皮质醇与睾酮之间均存在正向关联。此外，即使在不再具备生殖能力的老年人中，正向耦合在整个生命周期中都是明显的，但仍需要用更大的样本对发育差异进行进一步研究。文中还讨论了正向耦合的潜在机制和功能。
