It is my hypothesis that evolution selected
dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) because it optimizes replication and
transcription of DNA. Therefore DHEA levels affect all tissues and life
span. (I think selection for DHEA produced mammalia. "Hormones in
Mammalian Evolution," Rivista di Biologia / Biology Forum 2001; 94: 177-
184).
A case may be made that sufficient maternal DHEA is necessary both
for conception and full term pregnancy. A mother must produce sufficient
DHEA for herself as well as a fetus, until such time that the fetus starts
to produce DHEA sufficient to initiate birth and support for itself.
A mother who has difficulty initiating and supporting conception and
pregnancy may be low DHEA. If DHEA levels do affect all tissues, growth
and development of the child may be impaired, especially for the brain.
This may explain the findings of Seggers, et al.
It is my hypothesis that evolution selected dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) because it optimizes replication and transcription of DNA. Therefore DHEA levels affect all tissues and life span. (I think selection for DHEA produced mammalia. "Hormones in Mammalian Evolution," Rivista di Biologia / Biology Forum 2001; 94: 177- 184).
A case may be made that sufficient maternal DHEA is necessary both for conception and full term pregnancy. A mother must produce sufficient DHEA for herself as well as a fetus, until such time that the fetus starts to produce DHEA sufficient to initiate birth and support for itself.
A mother who has difficulty initiating and supporting conception and pregnancy may be low DHEA. If DHEA levels do affect all tissues, growth and development of the child may be impaired, especially for the brain. This may explain the findings of Seggers, et al.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared