25377
Testosterone and Steroids in Meconium: Differences By Sex of the Offspring

Friday, May 12, 2017: 12:00 PM-1:40 PM
Golden Gate Ballroom (Marriott Marquis Hotel)
N. Snyder1, B. Y. Park2, L. A. Croen3, M. D. Fallin4, I. Hertz-Picciotto5 and C. J. Newschaffer6, (1)Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, (2)Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, (3)Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA, (4)Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, (5)University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, (6)Drexel University A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Background:  Prenatal metabolism exerts profound effects on development. The first stool of the newborn, meconium, provides a window into the prenatal metabolic environment.

Objectives:  The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of meconium as a novel matrix to quantify prenatal steroid levels. We quantified parameters of analytical interest regarding the use of meconium, including sample stability. We hypothesized that meconium steroid content would differ by sex, prompting analysis of meconium to test effects of prenatal steroid metabolism.

Methods:  Meconium from 193 newborns enrolled in the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) study, including 107 males, and 86 females, were analyzed by stable isotope dilution-liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (ID-LC-HRMS) while blinded to identity for testosterone (T), androstenedione (AD), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Steroids levels were compared by sex, and investigations of potential trends resulting from sample storage or processing was conducted.

Results:  The unconjugated steroid content of meconium in ng/g (mean, standard deviation) was for males: T (2.67, 8.99), AD (20.01, 28.12), DHEA (13.96, 23.57) and for females: T (0.82, 1.63), AD (22.32, 24.38), DHEA (21.06, 43.49). T was higher in meconium from males (p = 0.0333), and DHEA was higher in meconium from females (p = 0.0202). 6 female and 3 male T values were below the limit of detection. No extreme variability in hydration or trend in steroid levels by storage time was detected.

Conclusions:  Sexually dimorphic levels of hormones may reflect gestational differentiation, and future studies should consider meconium analysis.

See more of: Epidemiology
See more of: Epidemiology