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Role of catecholamines in maternal-fetal stress transfer in sheep
- Source :
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 213:684.e1-684.e9
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2015.
-
Abstract
- We sought to evaluate whether in addition to cortisol, catecholamines also transfer psychosocial stress indirectly to the fetus by decreasing uterine blood flow (UBF) and increasing fetal anaerobic metabolism and stress hormones.Seven pregnant sheep chronically instrumented with uterine ultrasound flow probes and catheters at 0.77 gestation underwent 2 hours of psychosocial stress by isolation. We used adrenergic blockade with labetalol to examine whether decreased UBF is catecholamine mediated and to determine to what extent stress transfer from mother to fetus is catecholamine dependent.Stress induced transient increases in maternal cortisol and norepinephrine (NE). Maximum fetal plasma cortisol concentrations were 8.1 ± 2.1% of those in the mother suggesting its maternal origin. In parallel to the maternal NE increase, UBF decreased by maximum 22% for 30 minutes (P.05). Fetal NE remained elevated for2 hours accompanied by a prolonged blood pressure increase (P.05). Fetuses developed a delayed and prolonged shift toward anaerobic metabolism in the presence of an unaltered oxygen supply. Adrenergic blockade prevented the stress-induced UBF decrease and, consequently, the fetal NE and blood pressure increase and the shift toward anaerobic metabolism.We conclude that catecholamine-induced decrease of UBF is a mechanism of maternal-fetal stress transfer. It may explain the influence of maternal stress on fetal development and on programming of adverse health outcomes in later life especially during early pregnancy when fetal glucocorticoid receptor expression is limited.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Mothers
Fetal Development
Norepinephrine (medication)
Glucocorticoid receptor
Pregnancy
Internal medicine
Placenta
medicine
Animals
Labetalol
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Fetus
Sheep
business.industry
Uterus
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Endocrinology
medicine.anatomical_structure
Regional Blood Flow
Lactates
Catecholamine
Gestation
Female
business
Stress, Psychological
Hormone
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00029378
- Volume :
- 213
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....46bd4c5c99ba10b092c6a9a917547923