Developmental Aspects of the Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Response to Hemorrhagic Stress in Lamb Fetuses In Utero

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Abstract

Plasma ACTH and corticosteroid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in chronically catheterized fetuses of 32 pregnant sheep. Fetal plasma ACTH levels 38±5 pg/ml (means±SEM) were slightly (P < 0.05) lower than maternal 54±4 pg/ml levels. No general rise in fetal plasma ACTH concentration was noted before 140 days gestation; however, fetal plasma corticoid levels began to increase after about 125 days. This suggested that an increase in fetal adrenal responsiveness to endogenous ACTH occurred during gestation.

Authors

James C. Rose, Alastair A. Macdonald, Michael A. Heymann, Abraham M. Rudolph