Sex-specific prediction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity by pituitary volume during adolescence: A longitudinal study from 12 to 17 years of age

Michael Kaess, Julian G Simmons, Sarah Whittle, Martina Jovev, Andrew Chanen, Murat Yucel, Christos Pantelis, Nicholas Brian Allen

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To investigate the longitudinal relationship between pituitary gland volume (PGV) and parameters of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) functioning during adolescence. Methods: Participants were 49 adolescents (19 girls and 30 boys) selected from a larger longitudinal, population-based study of adolescent development. Assessments were conducted at three time points (S1, S2 and S3). MRI sessions were at S1 (age: M= 12.62, SD = 0.45 years) and S3 (M= 16.48, SD = 0.53 years) and multiple assessments of salivary cortisol were undertaken at S2 (M= 15.51, SD = 0.35 years). PGV was measured via previously validated manual tracing methods, and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal slope (DSL) were used as indices of HPAA functioning.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2694 - 2704
Number of pages11
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume38
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

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