Hodges-Simeon Carolyn R, Prall Sean P, Blackwell Aaron D, Gurven Michael, Gaulin Steven J C
Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215.
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095.
Am J Hum Biol. 2017 Sep 10;29(5). doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23025. Epub 2017 Jun 27.
Humans-and several other apes-exhibit a unique pattern of post-natal adrenal maturation; however, the causes and consequences of variation in adrenal development are not well understood. In this study, we examine developmental and age-related maturation of the adrenal gland (measured via dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEA-S]) for potential life-history associations with growth and mucosal immunity in a rural population of immune-challenged Bolivian juveniles and adolescents.
Salivary DHEA-S, anthropometrics, and salivary mucosal immunity (secretory IgA [sIgA]) were measured in 171 males and females, aged 8-23.
Males with greater energy (i.e. fat) stores showed higher DHEA-S levels. Controlling for age and energetic condition (to control for phenotypic correlation), higher DHEA-S was associated with higher mucosal immunity (sIgA) among both males and females. Higher DHEA-S levels were positively associated with growth (i.e. height and strength) in males.
In accordance with predictions derived from life-history theory, males with higher energy stores secrete more adrenal androgens. This suggests that adrenal maturation is costly and subject to constraints; that is, only males with sufficient reserves will invest in accelerated adrenal maturation. Further, DHEA-S appears to have a measureable influence on immunocompetence in adolescent males and females; therefore, deficits in DHEA-S may have important consequences for health and maturation during this period. Adrenal maturation is an important, but understudied component of human growth and development.
人类以及其他几种猿类呈现出一种独特的出生后肾上腺成熟模式；然而，肾上腺发育变异的原因和后果尚未得到充分理解。在本研究中，我们在免疫受到挑战的玻利维亚农村青少年人群中，研究肾上腺（通过硫酸脱氢表雄酮 [DHEA-S] 测量）的发育和与年龄相关的成熟情况，以探究其与生长和黏膜免疫之间潜在的生活史关联。
对171名年龄在8至23岁的男性和女性测量唾液DHEA-S、人体测量指标以及唾液黏膜免疫（分泌型IgA [sIgA]）。
能量（即脂肪）储备较多的男性DHEA-S水平较高。在控制年龄和能量状况（以控制表型相关性）后，较高的DHEA-S与男性和女性的较高黏膜免疫（sIgA）相关。较高的DHEA-S水平与男性的生长（即身高和力量）呈正相关。
根据生活史理论得出的预测，能量储备较高的男性分泌更多肾上腺雄激素。这表明肾上腺成熟成本高昂且受到限制；也就是说，只有储备充足的男性才会投资于加速肾上腺成熟。此外，DHEA-S似乎对青少年男性和女性的免疫能力有可测量的影响；因此，DHEA-S缺乏可能对这一时期的健康和成熟产生重要影响。肾上腺成熟是人类生长发育中一个重要但研究不足的组成部分。
