Kerr DR, Castro MI, Valego NK, Rawashdeh NM, Rose JC. Corticotropin and cortisol responses to corticotropin-releasing factor in the chronically hypoxemic ovine fetus.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;
167:1686-90. [PMID:
1335209 DOI:
10.1016/0002-9378(92)91762-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if mild hypoxemia (approximately 25% below normal) of at least 5 days' duration alters corticotropin and cortisol responses to corticotropin-releasing factor.
STUDY DESIGN
We studied 14 (hypoxemic, n = 5; normoxemic, n = 9) fetuses of 135 +/- 1 (mean +/- SEM) days' gestational age. Fetuses were placed in the experimental group if arterial PO2 was < or = 16 mm Hg for 5 days. In normoxemic animals arterial PO2 was > or = 17 mm Hg. Plasma hormone responses were compared by analysis of variance.
RESULTS
Resting corticotropin levels were not different (hypoxemic 26 +/- 5 pg/ml, normoxemic 29 +/- 12 pg/ml), and corticotropin-releasing factor (530 +/- 30 ng/kg) increased (p = 0.01) corticotropin levels similarly in both groups. Basal plasma cortisol levels (hypoxemic 20 +/- 10 ng/ml, normoxemic, 30 +/- 7 ng/ml) were not significantly different. Both groups had similarly increased (p < 0.01) plasma cortisol levels after corticotropin-releasing factor administration.
CONCLUSION
Mild hypoxemia lasting 5 days does not significantly alter corticotropin and cortisol responses to corticotropin-releasing factor in the late-gestation ovine fetus.
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