Effect of prenatal testosterone administration on palmar dermatoglyphic intercore ridge counts of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Dermatoglyphic ridge counts of the prints of 59 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) whose mothers had been treated with injections of testosterone during their pregnancies were studied to determine the effect of the day the hormone began to be administered, the amount of hormone administered, and the number of days of hormone administration upon the dermatoglyphic variation of the offspring. Of the three hormone variables, only the day of beginning administration (STARTDAY) was significantly associated with dermatoglyphic variation, and its positive significance was demonstrated with the ridge counts of Area I on both the left and right hand, Area II of the left hand, and the total ridge counts of both hands. These results are discussed within the context of the timing of the dermatoglyphic window, and the differences in the findings between the monkey and earlier human studies are addressed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Dermatoglyphic asymmetry and testosterone levels in normal males

Dermatoglyphic prints and salivary samples were taken on a sample of 39 adult males. A statistical relationship between dermatoglyphic asymmetry and adult testosterone levels as measured in saliva was examined for seven dermatoglyphic variables by means of correlation, regression, and analysis of covariance, controlling for age and stature when necessary. The first two types of analyses indicated a significant effect of testosterone level upon the asymmetry of three dermatoglyphic variables: a-b ridge count, palmar pattern intensity, and the combined pattern intensity of palm and digits. Analysis of covariance, which examined the effect of testosterone level as a categorical variable, while holding age or stature constant, demonstrated the asymmetry of five variables to be significantly affected by testosterone level: radial digital count, digital pattern intensity, palmar pattern intensity, total digital ridge count, and the combined palmar and digital intensity. Although there is as yet only associational evidence linking levels of prenatal and secondary testosterone, the results of the present study lend support to the hypothesis that prenatal testosterone levels may have a significant effect on the development of dermatoglyphics. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics among diabetic patients

Palmar dermatoglyphics and flexion creases of 108 male and 65 female patients diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus have been analysed. The control population consists of 536 males and 234 females from the same population. Palmar flexion creases were analysed according to the method suggested by Bali and Chaube ('71). The flexion creases of diabetic patients and the control population are significantly different. The differences between main line formulae in diabetes and controls are significant among males. The differences between C-line types of patients and controls are significant among both sexes. Axial triradii are significant among female patients and controls. The patterns in the interdigital areas IV and II are significantly lower among male and female patients respectively from their controls.     

Palmar dermatoglyphics in different phenotypic manifestations of schizophrenia]

Palmar dermatoglyphics was studied in 1120 patients with schizophrenia with due regard for its form, and in 1240 healthy persons of the same population. The frequency of the AU/AC type of patterns in the hypothenar area was increased in women with schizophrenia and its paranoid form. Among men with schizophrenia and its simple form the frequency of dysplasia, true and defective patterns on the thenar was increased; in addition in men with the paranoid form the frequency of loops in the 3d interdigital areas was also increased.     

The dermatoglyphics of a Toronto sample of children with XXY,XXYY, and XXX aneuploidies

Dermatoglyphic analyses were carried out on a sample of children with known sex chromosomal aneuploidies (25 XXY, 10 XXX, 1 XXYY). Digital ridge counts and pattern types were determined for each individual. Palm prints and sole patterns were also examined. The results of our study were compared with data from previous studies of sex chromosomal aneuploidies. Our results for the XXY males agree with the findings from other studies with respect to total ridge counts and plantar dermatoglyphics, but not for digital pattern frequencies. Our one example of an XXYY male showed hypothenar patterns similar to those found for this syndrome by other researchers, but neither the digital pattern types nor the unexpectedly high total ridge count conforms to the findings from other studies. Our sample of XXX females falls within the normal XX female range of variation with respect to hypothenar patterns and total ridge count; plantar features show a higher incidence of patterns than previously reported.     

Sole dermatoglyphics in the forest Nentsy,Nganasans, and Chukchi: Dermatoglyphic distances

Sole dermatoglyphics of the aborigines of Northwestern Siberia, Taimir, and Kamchatka are presented in this paper. The distance coefficients based on various combinations of dermatoglyphic traits depending on their heritability were estimated. These were compared with the overall dermatoglyphic distance coefficients as well as with the genetic (dermatoglyphic) distance coefficients based on six blood groups (ABO, MNSs, P, Fy, Jk, Kp). Genetic interpretation of the distances was attempted in connection with analysis of differences or similarities between these populations.     

Palmar dermatoglyphics as a means of identifying individuals in a baboon population

Dermatoglyphic patterns provide a reliable, permanent means of identifying individual primates in wild populations. Unlike the conventional marking techniques applied in wildlife biology, they are not prone to fading, loss, or distortion. Nonetheless, they have not been previously used for identification in primate field studies. We report here two simple techniques for recording dermatoglyphs in the field and describe an application of the method to a long-term study of population dynamics among baboons (Papio hamadryas, sensu lato)in central Ethiopia. Members of a baboon population were live-trapped, and replicas made of their palmar dermatoglyphics, in 1973, 1982, 1983, and 1984. By comparing the 1973 set with the later samples, we were able to identify four animals, two of each sex. All had been subadult or newly adult in 1973, as determined by dental eruption. Eleven years after their first capture, both females were still members of the same troop, although this had apparently amalgamated with a neighboring group. Both males had migrated. One had moved from one olive baboon group to another; the other (a hybrid) had moved from the hybrid zone described by Nagel (1973) into an olive troop. Ten animals were identified in both the 1983 and the 1984 samples, and one of these had previously been recorded in both 1982 and 1973. Establishing identity by means of dermatoglyphics promises to be a useful tool in studies where sampling episodes are widely separate in time.     

Easter Islander palmar dermatoglyphics: sexual dimorphism, bilateral asymmetry, and family polymorphism

The palmar prints of 297 male and female Easter Islanders were analyzed according to the Penrose and Loesch topological classification system. While the frequencies of most pattern elements were not found to differ significantly between the sexes, the placement of the axial triradius was found to be highly significant (P less than 0.01). Both males and females were found to exhibit considerable bilateral asymmetry in the a-b count and in the atd angle, but there was no significant difference between the sexes in the amount of asymmetry expressed. Family data for a small subset of the sample (51 individuals) were subjected to further statistical analysis, from which significant results (P less than 0.05) were obtained both on chi-square tests for frequency of pattern elements and ANOVA tests for a-b counts, atd angle, and A-line exit. The implications of these results are considered from a developmental perspective. It is suggested that a particular pattern combination (termed a formula) could be used to represent a default value and that other formulae might then be considered as deviations from this default value. Such variation, theoretically at least, might be traced to genetic influences or to the embryological environment present during the time of dermatoglyphic formation.     

Energetic reserves, leptin and testosterone: a refinement of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis

The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) assumes that testosterone (T), required for the expression of sexual traits, can also incur a cost due to its immunosuppressive properties. However, T-dependent immunosuppression could also arise as an indirect consequence of energy reallocation from the immune system to other metabolic demands. Leptin is mostly produced in lipogenic tissues and its circulating level is positively correlated with the amount of lipid reserves. Leptin also has an important role as immunoenhancer and we suggest that this hormone could play a role as a mediator of the immunosuppressive effect of testosterone. In particular, we propose that only the individuals able to maintain large lipid reserves (with high leptin levels), while sustaining high testosterone levels, might be able to develop sexual displays without an impairment of their immune defences. Here, we tested one of the assumptions underlying this extension of the ICHH: leptin administration should attenuate testosterone-induced immunosuppression. T-implanted and control male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) received daily injections of leptin or phosphate buffered saline. T-implants initially depressed the phytohaemagglutinin-induced immune response. However, T-birds injected with leptin enhanced their immune response to the level of control birds. These results open a new perspective on the study of the ICHH.     

Physical competition increases testosterone among Amazonian forager-horticulturalists: a test of the 'challenge hypothesis'

The challenge hypothesis posits that acute increases in testosterone (T) during male-male competition enhance performance and survivability while limiting the physiological costs of consistently high T. Human challenge hypothesis research focuses on young men in industrial populations, who have higher baseline T levels than men in subsistence populations. We tested whether the Tsimane, pathogenically stressed forager-horticulturalists of the Bolivian Amazon, would express acute T increases in response to physical competition. Saliva was collected from 88 Tsimane men (aged 16-59 years) before and after a competitive soccer match. Tsimane men had significantly lower baseline levels of T (β = -0.41, p < 0.001) when compared with age-matched United States (US) males. Linear mixed-effects models were used to establish that T increased significantly immediately following competition (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), remaining high 1 h later (β = 0.09, p = 0.007); equivalent to 30.1 and 15.5 per cent increases in T, respectively. We did not find larger increases in T among winners (p = 0.412), although T increases were positively associated with self-rated performance (β = 9.07, p = 0.004). These results suggest that despite lower levels of T than US males, Tsimane males exhibit acute increases in T at the same relative magnitude reported by studies in industrialized settings, with larger increases in T for those who report better individual performance.     

Immune activation suppresses plasma testosterone level: a meta-analysis

Females often select mates on the basis of sexual signals, which can be reliable indicators of male quality when the costliness of these signals prevents cheating. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) provides a mechanistic explanation of these costs, by proposing a trade-off between immune function and sexual displays. This trade-off arises because testosterone enhances sexual signals, but suppresses immune function. Many studies have investigated the ICHH by administrating testosterone, and a recent meta-analysis found little evidence that testosterone suppressed immune function. However, another component of the ICHH, which has received less empirical interest, suggests that there may also be an interaction in the other direction, with immune activation suppressing testosterone levels. We present a meta-analysis to test for this effect. Overall, there was a strong suppressive effect of experimental immune activation on testosterone levels (r=-0.52), regardless of whether live pathogens or non-pathogenic antigens were used to challenge the immune system. The latter is important because it shows that immune activation per se suppresses testosterone levels. Thus, a trade-off between immunocompetence and sexual displays may primarily be generated by the effect of immune activation on testosterone, rather than the opposite effect that has received most attention.     

The dermatoglyphics of American Negroes

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics of 184 male and 224 female normal American Negroes were evaluated for digital patterns, digital ridge counts, palmar patterns, palmar main line terminations, accessory triradii and palmar creases. All subjects were seven year olds examined and found free of chronic or other genetic diseases. The results were presented for the left and right hand for the most part comparable to those of the African and other American Negro groups reported earlier. The distributions of the various dermatoglyphic features among the Negroes taken as a group were compared to those of the other racial groups and their differences were discussed.     

Further refinement of the non‐invasive procedure for measuring steroid production in the male three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Measurement of steroids that are released into the water via the gills has previously been shown to be an effective way of studying the reproductive endocrinology of the male three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus without having to kill the fish. In the present paper, a previous observation on the existence of a compound other than 11‐ketotestosterone (11‐KT) in water, which cross‐reacted in the 11‐KT radioimmunoassay was repeated. The amounts of this compound, however, were not sufficient to warrant a separation step prior to carrying out assay. The lack of association between androstenedione levels in water and those in plasma was also confirmed. For the first time, the amounts of testosterone released into the water were shown to be positively correlated with the amounts in plasma, the sampling procedure (placing the fish for 30 min in 50 ml water) had no effect on the rate of release of cortisol but caused a rapid drop in the rate of release of 11‐KT (which means that the fish should not be sampled twice in short succession), physical interaction between two nesting males (which was accompanied by aggression) significantly increased the rate of release of 11‐KT, androstenedione and testosterone (but not of cortisol) and the rate of release of 11‐KT was at its maximum between 2 and 4 h after exposure.     

The dermatoglyphics of American Caucasians

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics were collected from 360 male and 360 female seven year old Caucasians from the greater Boston area. All participants were screened and found to be free of minor anomalies or chronic diseases. All individuals with I.Q. scores below 70 were also excluded. The results were presented in such a way as to give information on bilateral symmetry as well as overall frequencies of the various dermatoglyphic features. The results were compared with those of the corresponding sample of seven year old normal male and female Negrose of the accompanying report. A review of the distribution of the dermatoglyphic features in different Caucasian populations has also been presented and the overall dermatoglyphics of the Caucasians were discussed in reference to the distribution of the same features in the other major “racial” groups. The method of collection and selection of the subjects, described in the text, makes this set of data unique and one of the most suitable for use as controls in studying the dermatoglyphics of the individuals with diseases or congenital anomalies.     

汉、回、蒙古族拇指类型、环食指长、扣手、交叉臂及惯用手的研究

作者于1996年在内蒙古调查了汉、回、蒙古族5项人类遗传学经典指标(拇指类型、环食指长、扣手、交叉臂、惯用手)。研究结果显示:(1)3个民族间拇指类型、扣手出现率存在显著性差异,交叉臂、惯用手出现率则无显著性差异,环食指长出现率蒙-汉、蒙-回间存在显著性差异;(2)拇指类型、扣手、惯用手出现率无性别间差异,环食指长出现率男女间存在显著性差异;(3)惯用手与扣手、惯用手与交叉臂间存在明显的相互关系,交叉臂与扣手之间则无关;(4)与国外人群比较,3个民族环指长出现率高,交叉臂R型出现率较高,扣手R型出现率较低,惯用手L型出现率高于印度的一些群体。 Abstract:Authors in vestigated 5 general indexes of anthrotogical genetics including pollical type,palmar digital formula,hand clasping,arm folding and handedness in Han,Hui and Mongol nationalities in 1996.The results showed as follows:(1)There were significant differences in the frequency of pollical type and hand clasping in 3 nationalities,but those of arm folding and handedness showed nosignificant difference and the frequencies of palmar digital formula between the Mongol and the Hui revealed significant difference.(2)There were no significant sexual difference in the frequency of pollical type,hand clasping and handedness while the long type (R) of ring finger revealed significant sexual difference.(3)There were obvious correlations between handedness and hand clasping,handedness and arm folding but no relation between arm folding and hand clasping.(4)In comparison with foreign ethnic groups,the 3 nationalities showed higher frequencies of long type (R) of ring finger and right-arm folding but the frequence right-hand clasping revealed slightly lower.The findings showed higher frequence of Left-Handedness than that of Indian population.     

Evidence for the stress-linked immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in human male faces

The stress-linked immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (SL-ICHH) of sexual selection incorporates a role of the stress hormone corticosterone (C; cortisol in humans) in relationships between testosterone (T), immunity and secondary sexual trait expression. In support of this, C has been shown to mediate and moderate relationships between T and immune response and to be inversely related to attractiveness in some avian species. We predicted that female preferences for cues to T in human male faces would be contingent upon co-occurring cortisol levels. In study 1, we tested relationships between T and cortisol and attractiveness, masculinity and health ratings of raw male faces. We found cortisol to be inversely related to attractiveness. In study 2, we tested female preferences for male faces that were parametrically manipulated on the basis of cues to naturally co-occurring levels of T and cortisol across the menstrual cycle. Women preferred cues to low cortisol in general and in the fertile phase of the cycle, and there was an interaction between T and cortisol in general and in the non-fertile phase. Results were consistent with the SL-ICHH but not the original immunocompetence handicap model: females expressed preferences for cues to cortisol but not for cues to T, except in interaction with the stress hormone. Results inform the SL-ICHH by demonstrating female preferences for low cortisol and the nature of its interaction with T in humans, as well as indicating the traits that may be signalled by different combinations of the hormones including immune response, current health and resource acquisition characteristics.     

Dominance rank and fecal testosterone levels in adult male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda

In an attempt to describe hormone-behavior interactions in a sample of wild male chimpanzees, we quantified testosterone in 67 fecal samples obtained from 22 adult male chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. A mixed-model methodology that controlled for age-class identified a significant positive association between testosterone levels and dominance rank. The results are consistent with those reported from a separate, smaller chimpanzee community in the same population in a study that analyzed testosterone levels in urine [Muller & Wrangham, 2004]. As in that earlier study, our results held during a period of social stability, which is not consistent with predictions of the "challenge hypothesis." We concur with Muller and Wrangham [2004] that the challenge hypothesis requires modification to explain the chimpanzee data, because fission-fusion sociality in chimpanzees makes challenges unpredictable. We also discuss the utility of fecal samples and a mixed-model statistical method for behavioral endocrinology studies.