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Cord blood androgen levels of females from same sex and opposite sex twins – A pilot study
Author(s) -
Galiano Valentina,
Solazzo Giulia,
Rabinovici Jaron,
Nahid Farzam,
Rina Hemi,
Baccarelli Andrea A.,
Machtinger Ronit
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/cen.14317
Subject(s) - sex hormone binding globulin , androstenedione , androgen , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , medicine , cord blood , sex steroid , biology , hormone , steroid
Objective Opposite‐sex twins have shown behavioural and reproductive differences between females and males. These differences may be determined by higher intrauterine levels of androgens among females that were exposed to a male co‐twin. The aim of this study was to compare cord blood androgen levels in females from same‐sex and opposite‐sex twins. Design A prospective study. In this pilot study, we compared cord blood androgens (DHEA‐S, Δ‐4 androstenedione, total testosterone—TT) and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) levels in 20 females from same sex and 20 females from opposite‐sex dichorionic diamniotic twins. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) modelling to assess differences in cord blood androgens between females from same‐sex twin pregnancies and females from opposite‐sex twin pregnancies. Patients Twenty opposite‐sex twin pairs (female‐male twins) and 20 same‐sex twin pairs (female‐female). Measurements Cord blood total testosterone, Δ‐4 androstenedione, DHEA‐S and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Results No difference in the levels of androgens as Δ‐4 androstenedione, total testosterone and SHBG was identified between females that were exposed to a female co‐twin compared with females that were exposed to a male co‐twin. DHEA‐S levels were significantly lower among females from opposite‐sex twins compared with females from same‐sex twins. Conclusions Our preliminary data do not support the hypothesis that females exposed to male co‐twins are exposed to higher levels of androgens in utero compared with females exposed to female co‐twins. Further studies are needed to explain the reported behavioural and reproductive differences among opposite‐sex twins.