Life-course experiences have been postulated to program hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, suggesting that HPA axis activity is, at least partially, stable over time. Yet, there is paucity of data on the long-term stability of cortisol production and metabolism. We performed a prospective follow-up study in twins recruited from a nationwide register to estimate the stability of cortisol production and metabolism over time, and the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to this stability. In total, 218 healthy mono- and dizygotic twins were included. At the ages of 9, 12 and 17 years, morning urine samples were collected for assessment (by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) of cortisol metabolites, enabling the calculation of cortisol metabolite excretion rate and cortisol metabolism activity. Our results showed a low stability for both cortisol metabolite excretion rate (with correlations <.20) and cortisol metabolism activity indices (with correlations of .25 to .46 between 9 and 12 years, −.02 to .15 between 12 and 17 years and .09 to .28 between 9 and 17 years). Because of the low stability over time, genetic and environmental contributions to this stability were difficult to assess, although it seemed to be mostly determined by genetic factors. The low stability in both cortisol production and metabolism between ages 9 and 17 years reflects the dynamic nature of the HPA axis.

中文翻译：

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整个青春期皮质醇产生和代谢的长期稳定性：纵向双胞胎研究

已经假设生命历程经历对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺 (HPA) 轴活动进行编程，这表明 HPA 轴活动至少部分地随着时间的推移而稳定。然而，关于皮质醇产生和代谢的长期稳定性的数据很少。我们对从全国登记处招募的双胞胎进行了一项前瞻性随访研究，以估计皮质醇产生和代谢随时间的稳定性，以及遗传和环境因素对这种稳定性的贡献。总共包括 218 对健康的单卵和双卵双胞胎。在 9、12 和 17 岁时，收集晨尿样本用于评估（通过气相色谱-串联质谱法）皮质醇代谢物，从而能够计算皮质醇代谢物排泄率和皮质醇代谢活性。我们的结果显示皮质醇代谢物排泄率（相关性 <.20）和皮质醇代谢活动指数（9 至 12 年之间相关性为 0.25 至 0.46，12 至 17 年之间相关性为 -.02 至 0.15）的稳定性较低0.09 至 0.28（9 至 17 岁）。由于随着时间的推移稳定性低，遗传和环境对这种稳定性的贡献很难评估，尽管它似乎主要由遗传因素决定。9 至 17 岁之间皮质醇产生和代谢的低稳定性反映了 HPA 轴的动态性质。28 9 至 17 岁）。由于随着时间的推移稳定性低，遗传和环境对这种稳定性的贡献很难评估，尽管它似乎主要由遗传因素决定。9 至 17 岁之间皮质醇产生和代谢的低稳定性反映了 HPA 轴的动态性质。28 9 至 17 岁）。由于随着时间的推移稳定性低，遗传和环境对这种稳定性的贡献很难评估，尽管它似乎主要由遗传因素决定。9 至 17 岁之间皮质醇产生和代谢的低稳定性反映了 HPA 轴的动态性质。