Gestational hypoxia modulates expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin in the paraventricular nucleus in the ovine fetus.

ABSTRACT: Maturation of the fetal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is critical for organ maturation necessary for the fetus to transition to the ex-utero environment. Intrauterine stressors can hasten maturation of the HPA axis leading to fetal growth restriction and in sheep, premature birth. We have previously reported that high-altitude mediated, long-term-moderate gestational hypoxia (LTH) during gestation has a significant impact on the fetal HPA axis. Significant effects were observed at the level of both the anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex resulting in elevated plasma ACTH during late gestation with decreased adrenocortical expression of enzymes rate limiting for cortisol synthesis. As such, these fetuses exhibited the normal ontogenic rise in fetal plasma cortisol but an

SUBMITTER: Myers DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4760403 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature