AJP - Regu Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 253: R904-R909, 1987;
0363-6119/87 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wood, C. E.
Right arrow Articles by Brace, R. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wood, C. E.
Right arrow Articles by Brace, R. A.

AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 253, Issue 6 904-R909, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Fetal heart rate, arterial pressure, and blood volume responses to cortisol infusion

C. E. Wood, C. Y. Cheung and R. A. Brace
Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92109.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiological amounts of cortisol affect the fetal cardiovascular system. Cortisol (4 micrograms/min) or the vehicle was infused intravenously for 5 h into six chronically catheterized sheep fetuses at 127-143 days gestation (term = 145-150 days). In the cortisol-infused animals, plasma cortisol concentration increased from 2.0 +/- 0.6 (SE) to 8.3 +/- 0.9 ng/ml. There was a concomitant decrease in fetal heart rate of 38 beats/min (P less than 1 X 10(-6)) and an increase in arterial pressure. Estimated blood volume decreased by 6% in the cortisol-infused fetuses compared with the vehicle-infused animals (P less than 1 X 10(-4]. In addition, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations decreased to 70% of control at the end of the 5-h cortisol infusion, whereas plasma renin concentration decreased to 34% of control. The simultaneous increase in fetal arterial pressure and decrease in estimated blood volume suggest that fetal vascular resistance increased, whereas vascular compliance and/or nonstressed vascular volume decreased. However, this does not appear to be mediated by increases in circulating vasoconstrictor hormone concentrations or increased sympathetic tone. Thus the present study shows that physiological amounts of cortisol have significant effects on the fetal cardiovascular system but the mechanisms are unknown.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
C. E. Wood, G.-F. Chen, and M. Keller-Wood
Expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms is reduced in late-gestation ovine fetal brainstem
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): R613 - R619.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
D. A Giussani, A. J Forhead, and A. L Fowden
Development of cardiovascular function in the horse fetus
J. Physiol., June 15, 2005; 565(3): 1019 - 1030.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
I. C. Mcmillen and J. S. Robinson
Developmental Origins of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prediction, Plasticity, and Programming
Physiol Rev, April 1, 2005; 85(2): 571 - 633.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
K. Adachi, H. Umezaki, K. M. Kaushal, and C. A. Ducsay
Long-term hypoxia alters ovine fetal endocrine and physiological responses to hypotension
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2004; 287(1): R209 - R217.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
D. Xiao, X. Huang, S. Bae, C. A. Ducsay, and L. Zhang
Cortisol-mediated potentiation of uterine artery contractility: effect of pregnancy
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2002; 283(1): H238 - H246.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
M. G. Ervin, J. F. Padbury, D. H. Polk, M. Ikegami, L. M. Berry, and A. H. Jobe
Antenatal glucocorticoids alter premature newborn lamb neuroendocrine and endocrine responses to hypoxia
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2000; 279(3): R830 - R838.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
M. A. Anwar, M. Schwab, L. Poston, and P. W. Nathanielsz
Betamethasone-mediated vascular dysfunction and changes in hematological profile in the ovine fetus
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 1999; 276(4): H1137 - H1143.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
N. Unno, C. H. Wong, S. L. Jenkins, R. A. Wentworth, X.-Y. Ding, C. Li, S. S. Robertson, W. P. Smotherman, and P. W. Nathanielsz
Blood pressure and heart rate in the ovine fetus: ontogenic changes and effects of fetal adrenalectomy
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 1999; 276(1): H248 - H256.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Home page
D. Bourchier and P. J Weston
Randomised trial of dopamine compared with hydrocortisone for the treatment of hypotensive very low birthweight infants
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., May 1, 1997; 76(3): 174F - 178.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online