Pubertal neuroendocrine network characteristics and sex differences: A hair-based hormone network study

IF 3.4 2区医学 Q2 ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

Psychoneuroendocrinology Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-03 DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2026.107770

Xuliang Hou , Mingjun Xie , Sanjun Yi , Gao Wei , Huihua Deng , Danhua Lin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Puberty is a critical developmental stage involving profound remodeling of neuroendocrine and neuromodulatory systems. While hormonal changes from a single system have been well studied, the systemic coordination across multiple systems and its sex-specific pattern remain unclear.

Methods

We recruited 449 healthy adolescents (226 males, 223 females) and constructed the network that encompasses nine hormones representative of the HPA and HPG axes, ECS, and melatonin system. The hormones were measured from hair with LC–MS/MS. Hormonal networks were estimated via Spearman correlations. Expected influence (EI), bridge expected influence (bridge EI), and global strength were calculated. Sex differences were examined in global strength, edge weight, EI and bridge EI using the Network Comparison Test.

Results

The pubertal network showed the strongest coupling between metabolically related hormone pairs (i.e., F – E, MEL – NAS and T – P) and antagonistic pairs with cross-system associations (i.e., DHEA – NAS and DHEA – AEA). Cortisol, testosterone and melatonin with the highest EI were identified as hubs where testosterone emerged as a puberty-specific central node, but 1-AG exerted negative influence as an inhibitor. The pubertal network exhibited high global strength. Males showed significantly stronger global strength than females, but weaker edgeweight at the F − DHEA, E − NAS and T − NAS edges. Significant sex differences also appeared in both EI and bridge EI at nodes NAS and 1-AG.

Conclusions

Puberty is marked by intensified neuroendocrine integration and sex-specific reorganization. Cortisol and melatonin consistently act as central hubs, testosterone and progesterone show sex-differentiated roles, and 1-AG emerges as a potential inhibitory hormone. These findings highlight systemic bases of pubertal sexual differentiation and demonstrate the value of network analysis for mapping complex hormonal interactions.

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青春期神经内分泌网络特征与性别差异：基于毛发的激素网络研究。

背景：青春期是神经内分泌和神经调节系统深度重塑的关键发育阶段。虽然单一系统的激素变化已经得到了很好的研究，但跨多个系统的系统协调及其性别特异性模式仍不清楚。方法：我们招募了449名健康青少年（男226名，女223名），构建了包含HPA和HPG轴、ECS和褪黑激素系统代表的9种激素的网络。用LC-MS/MS从头发中测定激素含量。激素网络通过斯皮尔曼相关性进行估计。计算预期影响（EI）、桥梁预期影响（EI）和整体强度。采用网络比较检验，对整体强度、边重、EI和桥EI进行性别差异研究。结果：在青春期网络中，代谢相关激素对（F - E、MEL - NAS和T - P）和拮抗激素对（DHEA - NAS和DHEA - AEA）的耦合作用最强。具有最高EI的皮质醇、睾酮和褪黑素被确定为枢纽，其中睾酮作为青春期特异性中心节点出现，但1-AG作为抑制剂发挥负面影响。青春期网络表现出较高的全局强度。雄性的整体强度显著高于雌性，但在F - DHEA、E - NAS和T - NAS边缘的边重较弱。NAS节点和1-AG节点EI和桥EI均存在显著的性别差异。结论：青春期以神经内分泌整合和性别特异性重组增强为特征。皮质醇和褪黑激素一直起着中枢中枢的作用，睾酮和孕酮表现出性别分化的作用，1-AG作为潜在的抑制激素出现。这些发现突出了青春期性别分化的系统基础，并证明了网络分析对绘制复杂激素相互作用的价值。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychoneuroendocrinology 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

8.10%

发文量

268

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Psychoneuroendocrinology publishes papers dealing with the interrelated disciplines of psychology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology, neurology, and psychiatry, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary studies aiming at integrating these disciplines in terms of either basic research or clinical implications. One of the main goals is to understand how a variety of psychobiological factors interact in the expression of the stress response as it relates to the development and/or maintenance of neuropsychiatric illnesses.