No abstract

Lung and liver glycogen and corticosteroid 11-reductase activity were studied in fetal and neonatal rats. Glycogen content peaked in the lung on day 20 of gestation, while hepatic glycogen content was generally lower and peaked later. Both pre- and postnatally, betamethasone administration resulted in lowered pulmonary and elevated hepatic glycogen. In both lung and liver, corticosteroid 11-reductase activity showed an inverse developmental pattern to glycogen content. Betamethasone elevated pulmonary corticosteroid 11-reductase activity and lowered hepatic activity. In lung and liver, glycogen content and corticosteroid 11-reductase activity are tightly linked during development and following glucocorticoid therapy.

Sugar-containing beverages (SCBs) are a major source of sugar intake in children. Early life intake of SCBs may be a strong predictor of SCB intake later in life. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate if SCB intake (defined as 100% fruit juice, soda, and sweetened drinks) in early childhood (≤2.5 years of age) was associated with SCB intake in later childhood (5–9 years of age). A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the TARGet Kids! primary care practice network (n = 999). Typical daily SCB intake was measured by parent-completed questionnaires. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 43% of children consumed ≥0.5 cups/day of SCBs at ≤2.5 years and this increased to 64% by 5–9 years. Daily SCB intake, compared to no daily intake, at ≤2.5 years was significantly associated with SCB intake at 5–9 years (adjusted OR: 4.03; 95% CI: 2.92–5.55) and this association was much stronger for soda/sweetened drinks (adjusted OR: 12.83; 95% CI: 4.98, 33.0) than 100% fruit juice (OR: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.63–4.95). Other early life risk factors for SCB intake at 5–9 years were presence of older siblings, low household income, and shorter breastfeeding duration. Daily intake of SCBs in early childhood was strongly associated with greater SCB intake in later childhood. Early life may be an important period to target for population prevention strategies.

Growth and conversion of cortisone to cortisol by human fetal lung fibroblasts in monolayer cell culture have been found to be sensitive to steady-state oxygen concentrations or to acute oxidant stresses. Oxygen-dependent differences are significantly modified by pre-incubation with cortisol. We speculate that cortisol may have an oxygen-protective role, and that the induction of increased conversion of cortisone to cortisol with an increase in oxygen tension, such as that observed at delivery, may be of significance in the prematurely born infant with the respiratory distress syndrome.

Human foetal adrenal cells were grown in monolayer culture and their steroidogenic capacity observed for up to a month. The cells produced a complex array of steroids and some of their ester sulphates from endogenous as well as from [14C] and [3H] precursors. ACTH stimulated corticoidogenesis, particularly cortisol secretion, and markedly enhanced the incorporation of progesterone and pregnenolone into cortisol. Following incubation with the same precursors, large amounts of radioactivity remained water soluble. From the butanol extractable material of this fraction, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was characterized as the main metabolite of pregnenolone and corticosterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone sulphates as the main metabolites of progesterone. With time in culture there was a decrease in steroidogenesis as well as a steady decline in responsiveness to ACTH, mainly manifested by cortisol secretion. The medium from homologous foetal pituitary cultures stimulated cortisol production by the human adrenal cell monolayer.