Postnatal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal function in sheep is influenced by age and sex, but not by prenatal growth restriction
Jacqueline M. Wallace A C , John S. Milne A , Lucy R. Green B and Raymond P. Aitken A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK.
B Institute of Developmental Sciences, 887 Southampton General Hospital,Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: jacqueline.wallace@abdn.ac.uk
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 23(2) 275-284 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD10103
Submitted: 12 May 2010 Accepted: 29 June 2010 Published: 4 January 2011
Abstract
The relationship between impaired fetal nutrient supply and postnatal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) function was examined in ovine models of prenatal growth restriction (GR) caused by small placental size (SP) or by maternal undernutrition (UN). Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol responses following corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) plus arginine vasopressin (AVP) challenge were examined at 9, 18 and 24 months in growth-restricted (GR-SP) and normal birthweight (control) females (Experiment 1), and at 6 months in growth-restricted (GR-SP, GR-UN) and normal weight males and females (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, GR-SP offspring were born early, were 40% lighter at birth and had higher fractional weight gains to weaning than control offspring. Baseline ACTH and cortisol were independent of GR and cortisol decreased with age. GR did not affect the HPA response to CRH + AVP challenge at any stage, but ACTH increased with age. In Experiment 2, birthweight was greater in control offspring than in GR-UN offspring, which had a higher birthweight again compared with GR-SP offspring. Only the latter group was born early and exhibited rapid catch-up growth to weaning. Neither nutritional route to GR altered HPA function at 6 months. Males grew faster than females and HPA responses after stimulation were lower in males. Together, the results of these studies demonstrate that postnatal HPA function in sheep is influenced by age and sex, but not by GR.
Additional keywords: developmental programming, fetal growth, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, stress.
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