Sex-differences in catecholamine metabolites in human urine during development and at adulthood

Abstract

Adrenergic amines (dopamine [DA], norepinephrine [NE], epinephrine [E] and related compounds (DOPA, 3-methoxytyramine [MT], normetanephrine [NMN], metanephrine [MN], 3-5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid [DOPAC], vanilmandelic acid [VMA] were analyzed in urine of human from one day to 40 years of age, in view to investigate the sex influence on catecholamine metabolism during life. In neonatal life (1 day to 3.5 months), the total amounts of urinary (E + MN) and (NE + NMN + VMA) were lower in girls than in boys, the former two compounds being mainly of adrenal medullary origin and the latter three coming largely from the sympathetic neurons. In adulthood, women excreted epinephrine (12.5 +/- 2.2 micrograms/24 hours) at lower levels then men (22.8 +/- 4.5 micrograms/24 hours) but no sex related differences occurred in the total amounts of urinary E + MN and NE + NMN + VMA. It is concluded from our study that, during the neonatal life, girls exhibit a lesser adreno-sympathetic maturity than boys, but full maturation of peripheral adrenergic sites is reached near to the fifth year of age in both sexes. The role of testosterone has been discussed. In adults, the lower epinephrine levels found in women urine do not seem to result from a sex difference in the degree of adrenergic maturity, but perhaps partly from an increased rate of epinephrine inactivation by catechol-O-methyltransferase.

Reference intervals for urinary catecholamines and metabolites from birth to adulthood

“…The gender-related difference in urinary output of the adrenomedullary hormone E and its metabolite during the neonatal period is in accordance with data previously reported by Dalmaz and Peyrin [16] and more recently by Weise et al [1]. Endocrine factors such as higher concentrations of testosterone in male neonates may explain at least in part the higher degree of maturation of adrenergic sites [17].…”

Chemoreceptors, baroreceptors, and autonomic deregulation in children with obstructive sleep apnea

“…Indeed, SNA (measured using non-invasive approaches such as heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure and heart rate are lower in normal subjects while they are in non-REM sleep than when awake, and during REM sleep SNA increases above the levels recorded during wakefulness, even though blood pressure and heart rate return to the same levels recorded during wakefulness (Hornyak et al, 1991; Somers et al, 1993). These characteristic patterns undergo substantial changes during postnatal development, whereby SNA is higher in infants and very young children, and progressively declines till age 5-7 years, after which it remains stable till the beginning of puberty, the latter being associated with increases in SNA (Dalmaz and Peyrin, 1982; Finley et al, 1987; Finley and Nugent, 1995; Yeragani et al, 2005; De Rogalski Landrot et al, 2007; Weise et al, 2002; Yiallourou et al, 2012). Secondly, in addition to complex regulatory processes inherent to normal maturation, the confounding effect of body weight on ANS tonic and reactive response characteristics cannot be ignored (Aldo Ferrara et al, 1989; Rodriguez-Colon et al, 2011).…”

Catécholamines et métabolites urinaires : valeurs de référence de la naissance à l’âge adulte

“…Cependant, l'excrétion de l'AD et son métabolite méthoxylé est plus importante chez le garçon au cours de la première année de vie comme également rapportée par Dalmaz et Peyrin [18] et plus récemment par Weise et al [1] durant la période néonatale. Le rôle des androgènes a été évoqué pour expliquer la plus forte maturation du système adrénergique chez le garçon [19].…”