Changes in Plasma ACTH and Corticosteroid of the Maternal and Fetal Sheep During Hypoxia

Boddy, K.; Jones, Christopher T.; Mantell, Colin D.; Ratcliffe, John G.; Robinson, J. S.

doi:10.1210/endo-94-2-588

Cited by 102 publications

(58 citation statements)

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“…We achieved a doubling in maternal cortisol concentrations which, although not statistically significant, appeared to be adequate to influence fetal concentrations as demonstrated by the increase in fetal cortisol concentrations, and the positive correlation between maternal and fetal cortisol concentrations in the cortisol-infused group. Much greater increases in cortisol have been observed in response to physiologic stressors, such as a sevenfold increase in response to hypoxia (Boddy et al 1974).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of a chronic maternal cortisol infusion on the late-gestation fetal sheep

Jensen¹,

Gallaher²,

Breier³

et al. 2002

Journal of Endocrinology

114

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Exposure of the fetus to excess maternal glucocorticoids has been postulated to alter fetal growth and development, and thus provide a possible mechanism for the link between impaired fetal growth and altered postnatal physiology. However, the effects of exposure to excess maternal glucocorticoids on fetal physiology and metabolism in utero have not been described. We therefore studied the effects of chronic maternal cortisol infusion on fetal growth, blood pressure, metabolism and endocrine status in chronically catheterised fetal sheep. We infused hydrocortisone (80 mg/day, n=6) or saline (n=8) for 10 days into the pregnant ewes beginning at 119 days of gestation. Maternal cortisol infusion reduced fetal growth rate by 30% (girth increment 2·9 0·3 vs 1·8 0·4 mm/ day, P=0·03). Maternal cortisol infusion increased fetal heart weight by 15% relative to body weight and increased ventricular wall thickness by 30% in the left and 50% in the right ventricle. The weight of the spleen was reduced by 30% and placental weight reduced by 25%. Fetal blood pressure increased by approximately 10 mmHg (20%) during maternal cortisol infusion.Maternal cortisol infusion did not alter amino-nitrogen concentrations. However, maternal lactate concentrations increased by 80% and fetal lactate concentrations increased by 74% with maternal cortisol infusion, and both maternal and fetal urea concentrations increased by 40%. Circulating maternal IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 levels had increased by 20% by the end of the maternal cortisol infusion. Fetal IGF-I concentrations decreased during cortisol infusion and fetal IGFBP-1 concentrations were negatively correlated with fetal weight (r= 0·76, P=0·02).We conclude that even a modest elevation of maternal cortisol levels affects fetal growth, cardiovascular function, metabolism and endocrine status which may have longterm consequences.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of a chronic maternal cortisol infusion on the late-gestation fetal sheep

Jensen¹,

Gallaher²,

Breier³

et al. 2002

Journal of Endocrinology

114

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“…This is demonstrated (Text- fig. 7) by the changes in fetal hormones that occur in conditions such as fetal hypoxaemia where, for example the increases in fetal plasma ACTH and catecholamines are quite independent of any changes in the maternal circulation (Boddy, Jones, Mantell, Ratcliffe & Robinson, 1974;Alexander, Britton, Forsling, Nixon & Ratcliffe, 1973 ;Jones, Boddy, Robinson, Ratcliffe, 1975;. Such independence of the fetal endocrine glands is also demonstrated by the response of the fetal pancreas to conditions such as hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia produced by starvation or glucose infusion; fetal plasma insulin changes to control fetal glucose utilization in relation to glucose supply (Chez, Mintz, Horger & Hutchinson, 1970;Colwill et al, 1970;Basse« & Madill, 1974a;Shelley, Basse« & Milner, 1975).…”

Section: Fetal Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fetal metabolism and fetal growth

Jones¹

1976

Reproduction

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“…The fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has a major role in the response of the fetus to acute episodes of intrauterine stress such as hypoxaemia (Boddy et al 1974, Akagi & Challis 1989, haemorrhage (Rose et al 1978) and hypotension (Rose et al 1981). In addition, the axis is central to various other processes including organ maturation (Liggins 1994), growth (Fowden 1995), and cardiovascular regulation (Tangalakis et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation on development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in fetal sheep at 0.8-0.9 of gestation

Hawkins

Steyn²,

Mcgarrigle³

et al. 1999

Journal of Endocrinology

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The fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has numerous key roles in development. Epidemiological data have linked adverse prenatal nutrition with altered organ development and increased incidence of disease in adult life. We studied HPA axis development in resting and stimulated states in late gestation fetal sheep, following 15% reduction in maternal nutritional intake over the first 70 days of gestation (dGA). Fetuses from control (C) and nutrient-restricted (R) ewes were chronically catheterised and response profiles for ACTH and cortisol were determined at 113-116 and 125-127 dGA after administration of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). At 126-128 dGA cortisol profiles were also determined following ACTH administration. Basal ACTH and cortisol concentrations were not different between C and R fetuses. In R fetuses, ACTH response to CRH+AVP was significantly smaller at 113-116 dGA (P<0·01), and cortisol responses were smaller at both 113-116 dGA (P<0·01) and 125-127 dGA (P<0·0001). Cortisol response to ACTH was also smaller in R fetuses (P<0·001). We conclude that, in late gestation fetal sheep, pituitary and adrenal responsiveness is reduced following modest maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation.

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Changes in Plasma ACTH and Corticosteroid of the Maternal and Fetal Sheep During Hypoxia

Cited by 102 publications

References 0 publications

The effect of a chronic maternal cortisol infusion on the late-gestation fetal sheep

The effect of a chronic maternal cortisol infusion on the late-gestation fetal sheep

Fetal metabolism and fetal growth

Effect of maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation on development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in fetal sheep at 0.8-0.9 of gestation

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