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Repeated betamethasone treatment of pregnant sheep programs persistent reductions in circulating IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins in progeny
journal contribution
posted on 2008-07-01, 00:00 authored by Kathryn L Gatford, Julie OwensJulie Owens, Shaofu Li, Timothy J M Moss, John P Newnham, John R G Challis, Deborah M SlobodaExposure to synthetic glucocorticoids in utero markedly improves survival after preterm birth, but repeated exposures impair fetal and postnatal growth and are associated with evidence of insulin resistance in later life. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is an important regulator of growth and metabolism before and after birth. We have therefore investigated the effects of repeated maternal betamethasone injections on plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) in fetal and postnatal progeny in the sheep. Pregnant sheep carrying male fetuses were injected with saline or betamethasone at 104, 111, and 118 days of gestation (dG, term approximately 150 dG). Plasma samples were collected postmortem from fetuses before (75, 84, 101 dG) or after one (109 dG), two (116 dG), or three (121-122, 132-133, 145-147 dG) doses of saline or betamethasone and from progeny at 42 and 84 days of age. Fetal weight was reduced after two or more maternal betamethasone injections, and this effect persisted to term. Repeated betamethasone exposures reduced plasma IGF-I and total IGFBP in fetuses at 133 dG and progeny at 84 days, and reduced plasma IGFBP-3 at 84 days. Fetal plasma IGF-II tended to increase transiently at 109 dG following the first betamethasone injection. Fetal, placental, and/or postnatal weights correlated positively with concomitant plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, and total IGFBP. We conclude that repeated exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids in utero programs the IGF axis before and after birth, which may contribute to the adverse effects of betamethasone exposure on growth and metabolism.
History
Journal
American journal of physiology-endocrinology and metabolismVolume
295Issue
1Pagination
E170 - E178Publisher
American Physiological SocietyLocation
Bethesda, Md.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0193-1849Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2008, the American Physiological SocietyUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
AnimalsAnimals, NewbornBetamethasoneBirth WeightBlotting, WesternBody WeightFemaleFetusGlucocorticoidsInsulin-Like Growth Factor Binding ProteinsInsulin-Like Growth Factor IInsulin-Like Growth Factor IIMaleObstetric Labor, PrematureOrgan SizePregnancyRandom AllocationSheepScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEndocrinology & MetabolismPhysiologyantenatal glucocorticoidsprogramminginsulin-like growth factor-binding proteinGROWTH-FACTOR-ILATE-GESTATIONFETAL-GROWTHANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROIDSMATERNAL UNDERNUTRITIONGLUCOSE-HOMEOSTASISSOMATOTROPIC AXISGENE-EXPRESSIONSINGLE COURSEINSULIN
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