Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
14:40

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings

Published on: October 25, 2015

Antenatal corticosteroid exposure at term increases adult adiposity: an experimental study in sheep

Mary J Berry1, Anne L Jaquiery, Mark H Oliver

  • 1Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|May 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal corticosteroids given during early-term gestation may lead to increased weight and fat mass in female offspring. Further research is needed to determine if early-term corticosteroid exposure impacts adult adiposity in humans.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Clinical guidelines recommend antenatal corticosteroids for early-term elective cesarean sections (37-38 weeks) to mitigate neonatal respiratory issues.
  • The long-term health effects of term-equivalent corticosteroid exposure on offspring are not well understood and may differ from preterm exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term effects of antenatal corticosteroid exposure at term gestation on offspring body composition.

Main Methods:

  • Singleton-bearing ewes (n=64) were randomized to receive either a clinical dose of corticosteroids at term or no treatment.
  • Adult offspring body composition was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Main Results:

  • Female offspring exposed to corticosteroids in utero exhibited increased relative weight and fat mass compared to controls.
  • These effects on body composition were not observed in male offspring.

Conclusions:

  • Antenatal corticosteroid administration at early-term gestation may influence offspring body composition, specifically increasing adiposity in females.
  • Human studies are necessary to confirm whether early-term corticosteroid exposure contributes to adult adiposity.

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice04:20

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction01:26

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

Cushing syndrome refers to the collection of clinical manifestations that arise when tissues are exposed to excessive amounts of cortisol or cortisol-like medications over an extended period. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s adaptation to stress. When its concentration remains chronically elevated, these physiological pathways become dysregulated, resulting in the characteristic features of the syndrome.Exogenous...