ESPE Abstracts

Although Endocrinologists have focused for decades on circulating concentrations of cortisol, arguably the important concentrations are those within tissues which are available at corticosteroid receptors. Tissue concentrations are influenced by plasma proteins binding cortisol, by physicochemical characteristics of the steroid, by active transport across cell membranes, and by steroid metabolism within target tissues. Many of these factors vary between individuals, and within...

Background: Inter-individual differences in the metabolism of cortisol have been postulated to emerge during puberty, and might be explained by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The aim of the current study was to estimate the relative contributions of genetic, shared environmental, and unshared environmental factors on cortisol metabolism in a longitudinal twin cohort assessed at pre-pubertal, mid-pubertal and post-pubertal ages....

Background: Sex differences in disease susceptibility might be explained by a sexual dimorphism in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, which has been postulated to emerge during puberty. The aim of this study is to assess the contribution of pubertal development to sexual dimorphism in cortisol production and metabolism.Methods: Participants, born between 1995 and 1996, were enrolled from the population-based N...