Sex-specific effects of betamethasone on glucocorticoid and apoptotic signalling pathways in the sheep placenta.

ABSTRACT: Antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACS, e.g. betamethasone) is standard clinical care for pregnancies at risk of preterm delivery to reduce the incidence of neonatal lung disease and death. Variable and sex-specific impacts of ACS on the placenta have been reported and may reflect differing expression profiles of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms. We therefore examined placental GR isoforms and molecular and structural responses to betamethasone in the clinically relevant sheep pregnancy. Pregnant Merino ewes at 138 days of gestation (term = 150 days) received i.m. injections of saline or 11.6 mg of betamethasone 48 and 24 h prior to Caesarean section delivery of lambs and tissue collection. Placental glucocorticoid concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass sp

SUBMITTER: Meakin AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12400796 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature