Dataset Information

Early pubertal timing is associated with lower sperm concentration in college students.

ABSTRACT: To study the associations between pubertal timing and semen quality and reproductive hormones, 680 volunteers were recruited from universities in Chongqing, China. Pubertal timing was obtained using a questionnaire. The main measurements were five routine semen parameters and six reproductive hormones. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that early pubertal timing was associated with lower sperm concentration. An one-year increase in age of peak height velocity was associated with a 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0 to 8.6) increase in sperm concentration. An one-year increase in age of first spermatorrhea was associated with a 6.4% increase in sperm concentration and a 2.9% decrease in semen volume (95% CI = 1.7 to 11.3, -5.5 to -0.3; respectively). Regarding reproductive hormones, an one-year increase in age of height spurt and peak height velocity was associated with a 6.5% and a 6.7% decrease in estrogen (95% CI = -9.8 to -3.0, -10.4 to -2.8; respectively). While an one-year increase in age of height spurt was associated with higher follicle-stimulating hormone (% change = 2.6, 95% CI = 0.2 to 4.7). This was the first report that has suggested that early pubertal timing is associated with lower sperm concentration. However, further study is still needed to validate this association and fully elucidate the mechanism behind it.

SUBMITTER: Wang X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5966273 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Early pubertal timing is associated with lower sperm concentration in college students.

Wang Xiaogang X Zou Peng P Mo Min M Yang Huan H Chen Qing Q Zhou Niya N Sun Lei L Chen Hongqiang H Ao Lin L Cui Zhihong Z Cao Jia J

Oncotarget 20180206 36

To study the associations between pubertal timing and semen quality and reproductive hormones, 680 volunteers were recruited from universities in Chongqing, China. Pubertal timing was obtained using a questionnaire. The main measurements were five routine semen parameters and six reproductive hormones. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that early pubertal timing was associated with lower sperm concentration. An one-year increase in age of peak height velocity was associated wit ...[more]

PMID: 29849931

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Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and poor adaptation to change; thus, the onset of puberty may be a pivotal transition. This cross-sectional study measured pubertal timing to examine hypothesized differences for sex (female vs. male) and group (ASD vs. typical development [TD]). Participants included 239 children (137 ASD, 102 TD) between 10 and 13 years. The ASD group included 35 females and 102 males; the TDs included 44 females and 58 males. Pubertal onset measured by genital or pubic stage was investigated with linear regression using main effects of sex and age-by-sex interactions in TD and ASD groups and main effects of diagnosis and diagnosis-by-age interactions in males and females, controlling for body mass index, socioeconomic status, and race. In TD, examination of main effects for genital (penis/breast) stage showed no difference for male and female children (t = 1.33, P = 0.187, rdf = 92); however, there were significant differences in ASD (t = 2.70, P = 0.008, rdf = 121). For diagnosis modeled separately by sex, there was significantly earlier pubertal development in females with ASD (t = 1.97, P = 0.053, rdf = 70, but not males (t = 1.329, P = 0.186, rdf = 143). In addition, analysis of menses revealed females with ASD had significantly earlier onset than TD (t = -2.56, P = 0.018, rdf = 21). Examination of pubic stage revealed expected sex differences for TD (t = 2,674, P = 0.009, rdf = 91) and ASD (t = 3.482, P = 0.001, rdf = 121). Females with ASD evidence advanced pubertal onset relative to ASD males and TD females. Findings underscore the need for enhanced understanding of pubertal development in ASD, as differences may have significant psychological, social, physiological, and developmental consequences. LAY SUMMARY: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty with social communication and respond poorly to change, which may include the onset and course of puberty. The study measured the timing of puberty in 239 children (137 ASD and 102 typical development [TD]) between 10 and 13 years based on pubertal stage of genital (breast/penis) and pubic hair development. Females with ASD evidence advanced pubertal onset relative to ASD males and TD females. Findings underscore the need for an enhanced understanding of pubertal development in ASD.

Project description:Childhood obesity and early puberty are intermediate risk factors for later metabolic and reproductive disorders including diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and breast cancer. Atypical methylation patterns in genes related to hormone and adipose metabolism, such as CYP19A1 (aromatase) and PPARG (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), are associated with alterations in gene expression which may contribute to pathogenesis of these diseases. If present in early life, it is conceivable similar methylation aberrations may result in hormone perturbations that alter pubertal timing.We used Cox proportional hazard models to investigate whether promoter methylation of CYP19A1 and PPARG, independently or in concert with body weight, was associated with age at breast (B2) or pubic hair development (PH2) when assayed in saliva DNA collected from a cohort of New York City, Black and Hispanic girls (N = 130) enrolled in a study of pubertal timing between 6-8 years of age.An inverse association between CYP19A1 methylation and risk of early PH2 was suggested (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.90-1.00, p = 0.05). CYP19A1 methylation also appeared to modify risk of early B2 associated with body weight. Specifically, compared to normal weight girls with 'high' CYP19A1 methylation, significantly increased risk of early B2 was observed in overweight girls with 'low' but not 'high' CYP19A1 methylation (HR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.23- 3.76). However, in formal tests for effect modification, the interaction between body weight and methylation did not reach statistical significance (p for interaction = 0.085). PPARG methylation was not significantly associated with PH2 or B2.Though limited by sample size, our findings suggest methylation of CYP19A1, a critical gene in estrogen biosynthesis, may influence timing of breast development in overweight girls. Consistent with emerging reports, these data support the notion that epigenetic marks in surrogate tissues may improve risk prediction when added to standard plasma and anthropometric indicators, and warrant further study.

Dataset Information

Early pubertal timing is associated with lower sperm concentration in college students.

Publications

Early pubertal timing is associated with lower sperm concentration in college students.

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