Abstract
Plasma levels of testosterone and the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured in male autistic subjects (31 prepubertal, 8 postpubertal), mentally retarded/cognitively impaired subjects (MR, 12 prepubertal), and normal control subjects (NC, 10 prepubertal, 11 postpubertal). Mean levels of plasma testosterone were similar in the postpubertal autistic (4.54+1.12 ng/ml) and postpubertal NC (5.02±1.87 ng/ml) groups. Plasma DHEA-S levels in postpubertal autistic (2170±1020 ng/ml) and postpubertal NC (1850±77 ng/ml) groups also were not significantly different. Similarly, no significant group differences were seen for testosterone or DHEA-S in the prepubertal autistic, MR, or NC individuals, although prepubertal MR individuals with cerebral palsy did have increased plasma DHEA-S levels compared to age-matched MR or NC individuals. Significant negative correlations were found between testosterone and whole blood serotonin (5-HT) levels in the combined (all subjects, all ages) groups and in the autistic group, suggesting that the effect of puberty on whole blood 5-HT may deserve further study. Data indicate that altered secretion of the androgens is not a common feature of autism. However, abnormalities of adrenal androgen secretion may be present in individuals with cerebral palsy.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Ministère des Affaires Etrangères (Bourse Lavoisier), the National Institute of Mental Health (MH 44177 and MH 30929), the Cornell Children's Clinical Research Center (RR 06020), the Caroline and Kenneth Brody Fund, and the Janusz Korczak Stichting (Amsterdam).
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Tordjman, S., Anderson, G.M., McBride, P.A. et al. Plasma androgens in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 25, 295–304 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02179290
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02179290