Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity
Background: Ratio of second digit length to fourth digit length (2D:4D) has been extensively used in human and experimental research as a marker of fetal sex steroid exposure. However, very few human studies have measured the direct relationship between fetal androgen or estrogen concentrations and...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier Ireland Ltd
2015
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48405 |
| _version_ | 1848758099548045312 |
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| author | Hollier, Lauren Keelan, J. Jamnadass, E. Maybery, M. Hickey, M. Whitehouse, A. |
| author_facet | Hollier, Lauren Keelan, J. Jamnadass, E. Maybery, M. Hickey, M. Whitehouse, A. |
| author_sort | Hollier, Lauren |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Ratio of second digit length to fourth digit length (2D:4D) has been extensively used in human and experimental research as a marker of fetal sex steroid exposure. However, very few human studies have measured the direct relationship between fetal androgen or estrogen concentrations and digit ratio. Aims: We investigated the relationships between both androgen and estrogen concentrations in umbilical cord blood and digit ratio in young adulthood. In addition we calculated measures of total serum androgen and total estrogen bioactivity and investigated their relationship to digit ratio. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Subjects: An unselected subset of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (159 female; 182 male). Outcome measures: Cord serum samples were collected immediately after delivery. Samples were assayed for androgen (testosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone) and estrogen (estrone, estradiol, estriol, estetrol) concentrations using liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Digit ratio measurements were taken from hand photocopies at age 19–22 years. Results: For both males and females, there were no significant correlations between digit ratio and any androgen or estrogen concentrations considered individually, the testosterone to estradiol ratio, total androgen bioactivity measure or ratio of androgen to estrogen bioactivity (all p > .05). In males, but not females, total estrogen bioactivity was negatively correlated with left hand digit ratio (r = − .172, p = .02), but this relationship was no longer significant when adjusted for variables known to affect sex steroid concentrations in cord blood. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that digit ratio is not related to fetal androgens or estrogens at late gestation. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:38:36Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-48405 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:38:36Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Elsevier Ireland Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-484052017-09-13T14:24:11Z Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity Hollier, Lauren Keelan, J. Jamnadass, E. Maybery, M. Hickey, M. Whitehouse, A. 2D:4D digit ratio androgens cord blood Raine study estrogens Background: Ratio of second digit length to fourth digit length (2D:4D) has been extensively used in human and experimental research as a marker of fetal sex steroid exposure. However, very few human studies have measured the direct relationship between fetal androgen or estrogen concentrations and digit ratio. Aims: We investigated the relationships between both androgen and estrogen concentrations in umbilical cord blood and digit ratio in young adulthood. In addition we calculated measures of total serum androgen and total estrogen bioactivity and investigated their relationship to digit ratio. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Subjects: An unselected subset of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (159 female; 182 male). Outcome measures: Cord serum samples were collected immediately after delivery. Samples were assayed for androgen (testosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone) and estrogen (estrone, estradiol, estriol, estetrol) concentrations using liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Digit ratio measurements were taken from hand photocopies at age 19–22 years. Results: For both males and females, there were no significant correlations between digit ratio and any androgen or estrogen concentrations considered individually, the testosterone to estradiol ratio, total androgen bioactivity measure or ratio of androgen to estrogen bioactivity (all p > .05). In males, but not females, total estrogen bioactivity was negatively correlated with left hand digit ratio (r = − .172, p = .02), but this relationship was no longer significant when adjusted for variables known to affect sex steroid concentrations in cord blood. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that digit ratio is not related to fetal androgens or estrogens at late gestation. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48405 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.12.011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd fulltext |
| spellingShingle | 2D:4D digit ratio androgens cord blood Raine study estrogens Hollier, Lauren Keelan, J. Jamnadass, E. Maybery, M. Hickey, M. Whitehouse, A. Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title | Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title_full | Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title_fullStr | Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title_short | Adult digit ratio (2D:4D) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| title_sort | adult digit ratio (2d:4d) is not related to umbilical cord androgen or estrogen concentrations, their ratios or net bioactivity |
| topic | 2D:4D digit ratio androgens cord blood Raine study estrogens |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/48405 |