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¹ School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia² Women and Infants Research Foundation, Perth 6009, Australia³ , CIHR Group in Fetal and Neonatal Health and Development⁴ Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S1AB Canada

(Correspondence should be addressed to D M Sloboda who is now at The Liggins Institute, Auckland Mail Centre, The University of Auckland, 2-6 Park Avenue, Grafton, Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Email: d.sloboda{at}auckland.ac.nz)

To determine the expression of glucocorticoid metabolizing and action genes in the hippocampus of fetal, neonatal, and adult sheep. Pregnant ewes (or their fetuses) received intramuscular injections of saline or betamethasone (BETA, 0-5 mg/kg) at 104, 111, 118, and/or 125 days of gestation (dG). Hippocampal tissue was collected prior to (75, 84, and 101 dG), during (109 and 116 dG), or after (121, 132, and 146 dG; 6 and 12 postnatal weeks; 3.5 years of age) saline or BETA injections. Hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD)1 and 11βHSD2 mRNA levels were determined using qRT-PCR. Control animals late in gestation demonstrated a decrease in mRNA encoding GR and 11βHSD1, whereas 11βHSD2 was undetectable, consistent with a damping of the negative feedback influence of circulating or locally produced cortisol on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. BETA-administration had transient effects on fetal GR and MR, and early in postnatal life (12 weeks of age) 11βHSD1 mRNA was increased. Hippocampal MR mRNA was elevated in adult offspring exposed to either one or four doses of maternal BETA (P<0.001). Four courses of maternal BETA increased 11βHSD2 (P<0.05) but not 11βHSD1 mRNA levels. Late in gestation a reduction in hippocampal GR and 11βHSD1 mRNA suggests lessening of glucocorticoid negative feedback, facilitating increased preterm HPA activity and parturition. Adult offspring of BETA-treated mothers demonstrated increased MR and 11βHSD2 mRNA, therefore it appears that exposure of fetus to high levels of synthetic glucocorticoids may have long-lasting effects on the hippocampal expression of HPA-related genes into adulthood.