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Journal of Medical Ethics Nov 2020
Topics: Humans; Puberty
PubMed: 33033114
DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106822 -
Journal of Research on Adolescence :... Mar 2019The measurement of puberty is an intricate and precise task, requiring a match between participants' developmental age and appropriate techniques to identify and capture... (Review)
Review
The measurement of puberty is an intricate and precise task, requiring a match between participants' developmental age and appropriate techniques to identify and capture variations in maturation. Much of the foundational work on puberty and its psychosocial correlates was conducted several decades ago. In this article, we review the biological foundation of puberty; the operationalization of puberty in statistical analyses; and strategies for considering diversity and social context in research to help researchers align measurement with meaningful conceptual questions. These three areas are particularly important, given new statistical techniques, greater awareness of individual variations in development, and key differences between past cohorts and youth coming of age today.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Adolescent Health; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Regulatory Networks; Gene-Environment Interaction; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; Puberty; Research Design; Sexual Maturation; Social Environment
PubMed: 30869839
DOI: 10.1111/jora.12371 -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) May 2015This scoping review synthesizes existing research on two major transitions in females' lives: puberty and perimenopause. These two periods of vast physiological change... (Review)
Review
This scoping review synthesizes existing research on two major transitions in females' lives: puberty and perimenopause. These two periods of vast physiological change demarcate the beginning and the end of the reproductive life cycle and are associated with major neuroendocrine reorganization across two key systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Despite growing evidence suggesting that the timing and experience of puberty and perimenopause are related to various physical and mental health outcomes (e.g., mood disorders, metabolism, cardiovascular health, autoimmune conditions, and cancer), these two processes are rarely examined together. In this paper, we bridge these disparate literatures to highlight similarities, isolate inconsistencies, and identify important areas for future research in women's health.
Topics: Age Factors; Autoimmune Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Health Status; Hormones; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Mental Health; Mortality; Neoplasms; Perimenopause; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Puberty; Sexual Maturation; Women's Health
PubMed: 25797100
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.031 -
Animal : An International Journal of... May 2023This article reviews the scientific literature on puberty with a focus on ruminants and draws inference, where appropriate, from recent findings in transgenic mouse... (Review)
Review
This article reviews the scientific literature on puberty with a focus on ruminants and draws inference, where appropriate, from recent findings in transgenic mouse models and human pathology. Early genetic determinants of puberty have been discovered in humans suffering from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism or central precocious puberty. Transgenic mouse models selected on the basis of the causative defective genes helped in discovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. Most of the genes found are involved in the development of neuroendocrine networks during embryo development and early postnatal life. Notwithstanding that the development of neuroendocrine networks takes place early in puberty, a delay or acceleration in the development of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons has an impact on puberty onset inducing a delay or an advance, respectively. Among the genes discovered in humans and laboratory models, only a few of them displayed polymorphisms associated with advanced sexual maturity, but also marbling, growth traits and callipygian conformation. This could be related to the fact that rather than puberty onset, most research monitored sexual maturity. Sexual maturity occurs after puberty onset and involves factors regulating the maturation of gonads and in the expression of sexual behaviour. The association with growth and metabolic traits is not surprising since nutrition is the major environmental factor that will act on late genetic determinants of puberty onset. However, a recent hypothesis emerged suggesting that it is the postnatal activation of the GnRH neuronal network that induces the acceleration of growth and weight gain. Hence, nutritional factors need the activation of GnRH neurons first before acting on late genetic determinants. Moreover, nutritional factors can also affect the epigenetic landscape of parental gamete's genome with the consequence of specific methylation of genes involved in GnRH neuron development in the embryo. Season is another important regulator of puberty onset in seasonal small ruminants and appears to involve the same mechanisms that are involved in seasonal transition in adults. The social environment is also an underestimated factor affecting puberty onset in domestic ruminants, most research studies focused on olfactory cues, but the genetic basis has not heretofore been adequately tackled by the scientific community. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest transgenerational effects exist, in that nutritional and social cues to which parents were exposed, could affect the epigenetic landscape of parental gametes resulting in the epigenetic regulation of early genetic determinants of puberty onset in their offspring.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Sexual Maturation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Puberty; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Ruminants; Mice, Transgenic
PubMed: 37567653
DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100812 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... May 2021
Topics: Humans; Puberty
PubMed: 33950643
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0210 -
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Jul 2015This chapter is based on the Geoffrey Harris Memorial Lecture presented at the 8th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, which was held in Sydney, August 2014.... (Review)
Review
This chapter is based on the Geoffrey Harris Memorial Lecture presented at the 8th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, which was held in Sydney, August 2014. It provides the development of our understanding of the neuroendocrine control of puberty since Harris proposed in his 1955 monograph (Harris, 1955) that "a major factor responsible for puberty is an increased rate of release of pituitary gonadotrophin" and posited "that a neural (hypothalamic) stimulus, via the hypophysial portal vessels, may be involved." Emphasis is placed on the neurobiological mechanisms governing puberty in highly evolved primates, although an attempt is made to reverse translate a model for the timing of puberty in man and monkey to non-primate species.
Topics: Animals; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Hypothalamus; Neuroendocrinology; Neurosecretory Systems; Pituitary Gland; Puberty
PubMed: 25913220
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.04.002 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2017Many scientific studies have revealed a trend towards an earlier onset of puberty and have disclosed an increasing number of children that display precocious puberty. As... (Review)
Review
Many scientific studies have revealed a trend towards an earlier onset of puberty and have disclosed an increasing number of children that display precocious puberty. As an explanation, some authors have considered the global socio-economic improvement across different populations, and other authors have considered the action of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Among these, bisphenol A (BPA), an aromatic compound largely used worldwide as a precursor of some plastics and chemical additives, is well known for its molecular oestrogen-like and obesogenic actions. We reviewed the medical literature of the previous 20 years that examined associations between BPA exposure and the age of puberty in humans, considering only those referring to clinical or epidemiological data. Of 19 studies, only 7 showed a correlation between BPA and puberty. In particular, the possible disruptive role of BPA on puberty may be seen in those with central precocious puberty or isolated premature breast development aged 2 months to 4 years old, even if the mechanism is undefined. Some studies also found a close relationship between urinary BPA, body weight, and early puberty, which can be explained by the obesogenic effect of BPA itself. The currently available data do not allow establishment of a clear role for BPA in pubertal development because of the conflicting results among all clinical and epidemiological studies examined. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential role of exposure to EDCs and their adverse endocrine health outcomes.
Topics: Benzhydryl Compounds; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Humans; Male; Phenols; Puberty; Puberty, Precocious
PubMed: 28891963
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14091044 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Jan 2020
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Gender Equity; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Puberty
PubMed: 31866032
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.10.012 -
The Journal of Endocrinology Oct 2017The onset of puberty is the result of complex neuroendocrine interactions within hypothalamic region of the brain, as well as from genetic and environmental influences.... (Review)
Review
The onset of puberty is the result of complex neuroendocrine interactions within hypothalamic region of the brain, as well as from genetic and environmental influences. These interactions ultimately result in the increased synthesis and release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Manganese (Mn) is an essential environmental element known for years to be involved in numerous mammalian physiological processes, including growth and reproductive function. Studies in recent years have shown the ability of Mn to cross the blood-brain barrier and act within the hypothalamus to influence the timing of puberty. This review will depict research showing the molecular and physiological actions of Mn in the control of prepubertal LHRH and discuss the potential for the element to cause either helpful or harmful outcomes on the developmental process depending upon the age and accumulation of Mn within the hypothalamus.
Topics: Animals; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Hypothalamus; Manganese; Puberty
PubMed: 28720645
DOI: 10.1530/JOE-17-0237 -
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Apr 2023Pubertal development is a potential trigger for increases in risk-taking behaviours during adolescence. Here, we sought to investigate the relationship between puberty...
Pubertal development is a potential trigger for increases in risk-taking behaviours during adolescence. Here, we sought to investigate the relationship between puberty and neural activation during risky decision-making in males using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Forty-seven males aged 12.5-14.5 years completed an fMRI risk-taking task (BART) and reported their tendencies for risky decision-making using a self-report questionnaire. Puberty was assessed through self-reported pubertal status and salivary testosterone levels. Testosterone concentration, but not physical pubertal status, was positively correlated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour, while neither was correlated with BART performance. Across the whole sample, participants had greater activation of the bilateral nucleus accumbens and right caudate on trials when they made a successful risky decision compared to trials when they made a safe choice or when their risky decision was unsuccessful. There was a negative correlation between pubertal stage and brain activation during unsuccessful risky decision-making trials compared within unsuccessful control trials. Males at a lower stage of pubertal development showed increased activation in the left insula, right cingulate cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), right putamen and right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) relative to more pubertally mature males during trials when they chose to take a risk and the balloon popped compared to when they watched the computer make an unsuccessful risky decision. Less pubertally mature males also showed greater activation in brain regions including the dmPFC, right temporal and frontal cortices, right OFC, right hippocampus and occipital cortex in unsuccessful risky trials compared to successful risky trials. These results suggest a puberty-related shift in neural activation within key brain regions when processing outcomes of risky decisions, which may reduce their sensitivity to negative feedback, and in turn contribute to increases in adolescent risk-taking behaviours.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adolescent; Decision Making; Risk-Taking; Brain; Puberty; Brain Mapping; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Testosterone
PubMed: 36965437
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101230