Abstract：
Early and chronic stress was reported to alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning which regulates the secretion of cortisol. Nevertheless, few studies mainly focused on specific study populations (e.g. adolescents, pregnant women, and psychiatric patients), and researched interactive associations of pituitary volumes and single stress markers. The present study used pituitary volumes of two adult general-population cohorts of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-START-2: N = 1026, 54% Men, 30-90 years; SHIP-TREND-0: N = 1868, 53% Men, 21-82 years). In linear regression models, main effects of the pituitary volumes as well as interaction effects with childhood abuse and neglect (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) were estimated using depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II), and serum cortisol concentrations as outcome variables. The results of both cohorts were integrated via meta-analyses. No main effect between pituitary volumes and depressive symptoms was observed (START-2: β = -0.004 [-0.082; 0.075], p = .929; TREND-0: β = 0.020 [-0.033; 0.073], p = .466; Meta-analysis: β = 0.012 [-0.031; 0.056], p = .580). However, larger pituitary volumes were associated with more depressive symptoms in participants with more severe childhood neglect (START-2: β = 0.051 [-0.024; 0.126], p = .183; TREND-0: β = 0.083 [0.006; 0.159], p = .034; Meta-analysis: β = 0.066 [0.013; 0.120], p = .015). Further, larger pituitary volumes were associated with lower serum cortisol concentrations in participants with more severe depressive symptoms (START-2: β = -0.087 [-0.145; -0.030], p = .003; TREND-0: β = -0.053 [-0.091; -0.015], p = .006; Meta-analysis: β = -0.063 [-0.095; -0.032], p = 8.39e-05). Summarizing, larger pituitary volumes were associated with more severe psychopathological symptoms, particularly in participants reporting early life stress. This was supported by stronger associations between pituitary volumes and cortisol concentrations in participants with more severe depressive symptoms. Future studies are needed to transfer these results into developmental stages of high hormonal changes and patient samples.
摘要：
据报道，早期和慢性压力会改变下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴的功能，从而调节皮质醇的分泌。然而，很少有研究主要集中在特定的研究人群(例如青少年，孕妇,和精神病患者)，并研究了垂体体积和单一应激标记的相互作用关系。本研究使用了波美拉尼亚健康研究的两个成人普通人群的垂体体积（SHIP-START-2：N=1026，54％男性，30-90岁；SHIP-TREND-0：N=1868，男性53%，21-82岁）。在线性回归模型中，使用抑郁症状（贝克抑郁量表-II）估计垂体体积的主要影响以及与儿童虐待和忽视（儿童创伤问卷）的相互作用影响，和血清皮质醇浓度作为结果变量。两个队列的结果通过荟萃分析进行整合。未观察到垂体体积与抑郁症状之间的主要影响（START-2：β=-0.004[-0.082;0.075]，p=.929；趋势-0：β=0.020[-0.033；0.073]，p=.466；荟萃分析：β=0.012[-0.031;0.056]，p=.580）。然而,更大的垂体体积与更严重的儿童忽视参与者的抑郁症状相关（START-2：β=0.051[-0.024;0.126]，p=.183；趋势-0：β=0.083[0.006;0.159]，p=.034；荟萃分析：β=0.066[0.013；0.120]，p=.015）。Further,在患有更严重的抑郁症状的参与者中，更大的垂体体积与更低的血清皮质醇浓度相关(START-2:β=-0.087[-0.145;-0.030]，p=.003；趋势-0：β=-0.053[-0.091；-0.015]，p=.006；荟萃分析：β=-0.063[-0.095；-0.032]，p=8.39e-05)。总结，更大的垂体体积与更严重的精神病理症状有关，特别是在报告早期生活压力的参与者中。这得到了更严重的抑郁症状参与者的垂体体积和皮质醇浓度之间更强的关联的支持。未来的研究需要将这些结果转化为高荷尔蒙变化和患者样本的发育阶段。
