RESUMO
Idiosyncratic variation within the normal range of androgens levels in women account for significant variations in personality and behavior. We studied if testosterone introduces significant biases in women's perception of fluctuating symmetry of male faces suitability for a long-term relationship. Participants were 145 female college students asked to rate in a two-choice forced paradigm the attractiveness, suitability as a long-term partner, and economic success, fatherliness and fidelity of an asymmetric and a symmetric male face. Since our sample consists of random women interested in participating, whether for personal reasons or because they were paid to participate, we controlled for menstrual phase. All participants provided salivary samples to determine testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels. When the P4/E2 was low and T low-to-normal, the symmetric face was rated as more attractive, and a desirable long-term partner, but these preferences changed to the opposite when P4/E2 was high. In high T women, neither face was rated as more attractive, independently from the P4/E2 ratio, but the asymmetric face was preferred as a long-term partner when conception risk was high, changing to prefer the symmetric face as the P4/E2 increased. The overall perception of male faces was that the symmetric face was more economical successful but a poor parent and highly unfaithful compared to the asymmetric face. A significant interaction between T and P4/E2 for ratings success of the asymmetric face suggests that high levels of feminine T might be related to inter-sexual competition when conception risk is high.
Assuntos
Estradiol/metabolismo , Face , Progesterona/metabolismo , Caracteres Sexuais , Comportamento Sexual , Testosterona/metabolismo , Adolescente , Adulto , Comportamento de Escolha/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Saliva/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
We studied if testosterone and estradiol concentrations are associated with specific female waist-to-hip ratios (WHRs) and body mass indices (BMIs). Participants were 187 young women from which waist, hips, weight, and height were measured. In addition, participants informed on which day of their menstrual cycle they were and provided a 6 mL saliva sample. Ninety-one of them were in the follicular phase and 96 in the luteal phase. Only in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle we found a significant interaction between testosterone and estradiol affecting WHR (b ± s.e. = -0.000003 ± 0.000001; t 94 = -2.12, adjusted R (2) = -0.008, P = 0.03). Women with the highest levels of both hormones had the lowest WHRs, while women with low estradiol and high testosterone showed the highest WHRs. BMI significantly increased as testosterone increased in female in their nonfertile days.
RESUMO
Vinclozolin (V) is classified as a potent endocrine disruptor. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of V on rat liver CYP regulation and on serum levels of testosterone and estradiol during pregnancy. Pregnancy decreased the liver total CYP content by 65%, enzyme activities of MROD, PROD, and PNPH, and testosterone hydroxylation activities, as well as the protein content of CYP2A and 3A. V exposure remarkably induced the protein content and enzyme activities of CYP1A, 2A, 2B and 3A subfamilies. Testosterone and estradiol were affected in an opposite manner, provoking a 3.5-fold increase in the estradiol/testosterone ratio. These results suggest that V could regulate the hepatic CYP expression through interaction with receptors and coactivators involved in its expression and may play an important role in hormonal balance during pregnancy. In addition, the results may also contribute to understanding the toxicity of V by in utero exposure.
Assuntos
Antagonistas de Androgênios/farmacologia , Sistema Enzimático do Citocromo P-450/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Oxazóis/farmacologia , Animais , Estradiol/sangue , Feminino , Isoenzimas/biossíntese , Fígado/metabolismo , Gravidez/metabolismo , Ratos Wistar , Testosterona/sangueRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common and serious disorder among hospitalized elderly individuals. We investigated the association between serum estradiol levels and incident delirium. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 141 women ≥ 70 years old admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City. All participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Blood samples for cortisol and estradiol determination were obtained at hospital admission. Incident delirium was investigated until participants were discharged. Multivariate models were run to test the independent association between estradiol levels and incident delirium. RESULTS: Twenty-three (16.3%) participants developed delirium. Estradiol levels were higher among women with incident delirium compared with non-affected women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum estradiol levels were associated with incident delirium even after adjusting for multiple confounding covariates, including cortisol levels (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.28-2.92). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women with high serum estradiol levels at hospital admission had an increased risk for incident delirium. Serum estradiol may be a biomarker for increased risk of delirium.