This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1933719109332827v1 16/6/573    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Connor, K. L. Articles by Challis, J. R. G. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Connor, K. L. Articles by Bloomfield, F. H. Articles by Oliver, M. H. Articles by Harding, J. E. Articles by Challis, J. R. G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Effect of Periconceptional Undernutrition in Sheep on Late Gestation Expression of mRNA and Protein From Genes Involved in Fetal Adrenal Steroidogenesis and Placental Prostaglandin Production

Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada

Frank H. Bloomfield, MBChB, PhD, FRACP

Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Mark H. Oliver, PhD

Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Jane E. Harding, MBChB, DPhil, FRACP

Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand

John R. G. Challis, DSc, FRCOG, FRSC

Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada, j.challis{at}utoronto.ca

In sheep, maternal periconceptional undernutrition precociously activates fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in a high proportion of animals, resulting in preterm birth. We investigated whether the effects of periconceptional undernutrition were mediated through genes encoding enzymes involved in adrenal steroidogenesis and in placental production and metabolism of steroids and prostaglandins. Singleton-bearing ewes were fed ad libitum (control, N) throughout gestation or undernourished from 60 days before until 30 days after mating. Fetal adrenal and placentome tissues were collected on gestational day 131. Fetal adrenal P450C17 protein expression was significantly increased with undernutrition. Placental prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 expression was not different between groups. In undernourished pregnancies, there were significant positive correlations between fetal plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol concentrations and between fetal plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations and placental prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. These studies suggest that periconceptional undernutrition affects fetal adrenal P450C17, consistent with an elevation in plasma cortisol, and this occurs prior to activation of placental prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 expression at gestational day 131.

Key Words: HPA axis • nutrition • placenta • pregnancy • fetus.

This version was published on June 1, 2009

Reproductive Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 6, 573-583 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1933719109332827


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?