Pubertal hormones predict sex-specific trajectories of pituitary gland volume during the transition from childhood to adolescence

Sarah Whittle; Marjolein Barendse; Elena Pozzi; Nandita Vijayakumar; Julian G Simmons

Journal article

Pubertal hormones predict sex-specific trajectories of pituitary gland volume during the transition from childhood to adolescence

Sarah Whittle, Marjolein Barendse, Elena Pozzi, Nandita Vijayakumar, Julian G Simmons

NEUROIMAGE | ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | Published : 2020

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116256

Abstract

Pituitary gland volume (PGV) increases during childhood and adolescence in a sex-specific manner, and previous research suggests that puberty may be associated with PGV development. However, existing research to date has focused on sex hormones associated with gonadarche. Given the role of the pituitary gland in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, the present study investigated associations between PGV development and HPA hormones that play a role in the earlier pubertal phase of adrenarche. Participants were a community sample of 249 children and early adolescents who participated in longitudinal brain imaging and pubertal assessments. Each participant provided data at one o..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Sarah Whittle Author Psychiatry

Elena Pozzi Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Julian Simmons Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council, Australia

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia

Awarded by NHMRC Career Development Fellowship, Australia

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

Funding Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council, Australia (ID: DP130103551, DP120101402), and the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (ID: 1082668). SW is supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship, Australia (ID: 1007716). The funding sources had no involvement in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication. We thank the Royal Children's Hospital Medical Imaging staff for their assistance and expertise in the collection of the MRI data included in this study.