Journal article

The Enigma of the Adrenarche: Identifying the Early Life Mechanisms and Possible Role in Postnatal Brain Development


Authors listCumberland, Angela L.; Hirst, Jonathan J.; Badoer, Emilio; Wudy, Stefan A.; Greaves, Ronda F.; Zacharin, Margaret; Walker, David W.

Publication year2021

JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences

Volume number22

Issue number9

eISSN1422-0067

Open access statusGold

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094296

PublisherMDPI


Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated metabolite (DHEAS) are dynamically regulated before birth and the onset of puberty. Yet, the origins and purpose of increasing DHEA[S] in postnatal development remain elusive. Here, we draw attention to this pre-pubertal surge from the adrenal gland-the adrenarche-and discuss whether this is the result of intra-adrenal gene expression specifically affecting the zona reticularis (ZR), if the ZR is influenced by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and the possible role of spino-sympathetic innervation in prompting increased ZR activity. We also discuss whether neural DHEA[S] synthesis is coordinately regulated with the developing adrenal gland. We propose that DHEA[S] is crucial in the brain maturation of humans prior to and during puberty, and suggest that the function of the adrenarche is to modulate, adapt and rewire the pre-adolescent brain for new and ever-changing social challenges. The etiology of DHEA[S] synthesis, neurodevelopment and recently described 11-keto and 11-oxygenated androgens are difficult to investigate in humans owing to: (i) ethical restrictions on mechanistic studies, (ii) the inability to predict which individuals will develop specific mental characteristics, and (iii) the difficulty of conducting retrospective studies based on perinatal complications. We discuss new opportunities for animal studies to overcome these important issues.



Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleCumberland, A., Hirst, J., Badoer, E., Wudy, S., Greaves, R., Zacharin, M., et al. (2021) The Enigma of the Adrenarche: Identifying the Early Life Mechanisms and Possible Role in Postnatal Brain Development, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(9), Article 4296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094296

APA Citation styleCumberland, A., Hirst, J., Badoer, E., Wudy, S., Greaves, R., Zacharin, M., & Walker, D. (2021). The Enigma of the Adrenarche: Identifying the Early Life Mechanisms and Possible Role in Postnatal Brain Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(9), Article 4296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094296



Keywords


adrenal androgensadrenarcheBLOOD-FLOWbrain developmentDHEAGLUCOCORTICOID-RECEPTORGUINEA-PIGHIPPOCAMPAL-NEURONSMENTAL-HEALTHneurosteroidsPREMATURE ADRENARCHESPINY MOUSEWOMEN

Last updated on 2025-10-06 at 11:25