Related Experiment Videos
Programming effects of short prenatal exposure to cortisol
Miodrag Dodic1, Vicky Hantzis, Jhodie Duncan
1Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. m.dodic@hfi.unimelb.edu.au
Summary
Short prenatal cortisol exposure in sheep programmed adult offspring for high blood pressure. This study also observed changes in brain gene expression, impacting hippocampal development and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Fetal exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environments is linked to adult hypertension.
- Prenatal stress and hormonal exposure can impact offspring's long-term health.
- The intrauterine environment's role in programming adult disease is an active area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if prenatal cortisol treatment in ewes causes high blood pressure in adult sheep offspring.
- To examine the effects of prenatal cortisol exposure on brain gene expression in fetal and young sheep.
Main Methods:
- Cortisol was administered to pregnant ewes for two days at 27 days of gestation.
- Mean arterial pressure was measured in adult offspring.
- Gene expression (mRNA) for angiotensinogen, AT1, MR, and GR was analyzed in the hippocampus of fetuses and lambs.
Main Results:
- Adult offspring of cortisol-treated ewes exhibited significantly higher mean arterial pressure compared to controls.
- Prenatal cortisol exposure upregulated specific gene mRNAs (angiotensinogen, AT1, MR, GR) in the fetal hippocampus.
- These gene expression changes were not observed in 2-month-old lambs.
Conclusions:
- Short-term prenatal cortisol exposure can program adult offspring for hypertension in sheep.
- Altered hippocampal gene expression during fetal development may underlie these effects.
- This programming may influence hippocampal development and subsequent postnatal behavior.