Maternal stress alters endocrine function of the feto-placental unit in rats.

• Prenatal stress (PS) can cause early and long-term developmental effects resulting in part from altered maternal and/or fetal glucocorticoid exposure. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of chronic restraint stress during late gestation on feto-placental unit physiology and function in embryonic (E) day 21 male rat fetuses. Chronic stress decreased body weight gain and food intake of the dams and increased their adrenal weight. In the placenta of PS rats, the expression of glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) was decreased, whereas GLUT3 and GLUT4 were slightly increased. Moreover, placental expression and activity of the glucocorticoid "barrier" enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 was strongly reduced. At E21, PS fetuses exhibited decreased body, adrenal pancreas, and testis weights. These alterations were associated with reduced pancreatic beta-cell mass, plasma levels of glucose, growth hormone, and ACTH, whereas corticosterone, insulin, IGF-1, and CBG levels were unaffected. These data emphasize the impact of PS on both fetal growth and endocrine function as well as on placental physiology, suggesting that PS could program processes implied in adult biology and pathophysiology.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Näringslära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nutrition and Dietetics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2

metabolism

Adrenal Glands

pathology

Animals

Blood Glucose

metabolism

Body Weight

Chronic Disease

Eating

Endocrine Glands

embryology

Female

Fetal Blood

metabolism

Fetus

anatomy & histology

metabolism

Glucose Transport Proteins

Facilitative

metabolism

Hormones

blood

Insulin-Secreting Cells

cytology

Islets of Langerhans

embryology

Male

Organ Size

Pancreas

embryology

Placenta

metabolism

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Complications

metabolism

pathology

physiopathology

Rats

Restraint

Physical

Stress

etiology

metabolism

pathology

physiopathology

Testis

embryology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)