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Testosterone-fueled infantile males might be a product of Mom's behavior

Date:
May 10, 2012
Source:
Université de Montréal
Summary:
By comparing the testosterone levels of five-month old pairs of twins, both identical and non-identical, researchers were able to establish that testosterone levels in infancy are not inherited genetically but rather determined by environmental factors. “Testosterone is a key hormone for the development of male reproductive organs, and it is also associated with behavioral traits, such as sexual behavior and aggression,” said the lead author.
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By comparing the testosterone levels of five-month old pairs of twins, both identical and non-identical, University of Montreal researchers were able to establish that testosterone levels in infancy are not inherited genetically but rather determined by environmental factors.

"Testosterone is a key hormone for the development of male reproductive organs, and it is also associated with behavioural traits, such as sexual behaviour and aggression," said lead author Dr. Richard E. Tremblay of the university's Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment. "Our study is the largest to be undertaken with newborns, and our results contrast with the findings gained by scientists working with adolescents and adults, indicating that testosterone levels are inherited."

The findings were presented in an article published in Psychoneuroendocrinology on May 7, 2012.

The researchers took saliva samples from 314 pairs of twins and measured the levels of testosterone. They then compared the similarity in testosterone levels between identical and fraternal twins to determine the contribution of genetic and environmental factors. Results indicated that differences in levels of testosterone were due mainly to environmental factors. "The study was not designed to specifically identify these environmental factors which could include a variety of environmental conditions, such as maternal diet, maternal smoking, breastfeeding and parent-child interactions."

"Because our study suggests that testosterone levels in infants are determined by the circumstances in which the child develops before and after birth, further studies will be needed to find out exactly what these influencing factors are and to what extent they change from birth to puberty," Tremblay said.


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Materials provided by Université de Montréal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Doretta Caramaschi, Linda Booij, Amélie Petitclerc, Michel Boivin, Richard E. Tremblay. Genetic and environmental contributions to saliva testosterone levels in male and female infant twins. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.04.008

Cite This Page:

Université de Montréal. "Testosterone-fueled infantile males might be a product of Mom's behavior." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 May 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510095936.htm>.
Université de Montréal. (2012, May 10). Testosterone-fueled infantile males might be a product of Mom's behavior. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510095936.htm
Université de Montréal. "Testosterone-fueled infantile males might be a product of Mom's behavior." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510095936.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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