The effect of prenatal betamethasone administration on postnatal ovine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function

• DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1720071
• Publication Date: 2004-12-02T23:42:13Z
• Authors: DM Sloboda; TJ Moss; LC Gurrin; JP Newnham
• Keywords: Adrenal function

Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids is associated with alterations in fetal growth and endocrine function. However, few studies have examined the effects of clinically relevant doses on postnatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) To determine maternal or betamethasone administration (0.5 mg/kg estimated weight) HPA function at 6 months 1 year age, pregnant ewes were randomized into following treatment groups: no (n=6); saline single (M1) repeated (M4) (n=5); (n=6) (F4) (n=6). Single injections given 104 days gestation 104, 111, 118 125 days. Lambs born spontaneously ACTH cortisol responses i.v. corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) microg/kg) plus arginine vasopressin (AVP) (0.1 measured postnatally. At neither nor prenatal altered significantly CRH+AVP. animals a previous injection mother resulted elevated basal stimulated levels (P<0.05), without significant change response. In contrast, fetus attenuated CRH+AVP compared control but these not any changes levels. All exhibited increase peak between age (P<0.05). After (F4, M4) difference response was abolished. We conclude that sheep undergoes developmental are influenced by glucocorticoid exposure. Furthermore, may vary according time steroid administered, whether it directly compartment.