By 95 days of gestation CRF increases plasma ACTH and cortisol in ovine fetuses

Plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol (F) responses to 15-min intravenous infusions of synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were measured by radioimmunoassay in three groups of chronically cannulated ovine fetuses. Fetuses (n = 7) in group I were 107 +/- 2 days gestation (0.72 G) and fetuses (n = 7) in group II were 126 +/- 2 days gestation (0.86 G). Group III fetuses (n = 5) were studied at 5-day intervals during the last 2 wk of gestation. Resting fetal plasma ACTH levels were not significantly different among the three experimental groups. Infusions of CRF (50 ng X kg-1 X min-1) provided similar, significant increases in fetal plasma ACTH concentrations in the three groups. In the young fetuses (group I) the ACTH responses to 500 ng X kg-1 X min-1 infusions of CRF were greater than responses to 50 ng X kg-1 X min-1 infusions P less than 0.001. In group II both doses of CRF produced equivalent increases in ACTH that were comparable with the responses to 50 ng X kg-1 X min-1 infusions in Group I. This suggests that fetal ACTH responsiveness to large doses of CRF decreases between 0.72 and 0.86 G. Resting fetal plasma F levels increased during gestation (P less than 0.01). There was an F response (P less than 0.001) to CRF in all groups with greater responses observed in the older fetuses. This suggests that fetal adrenal responsiveness to ACTH or other peptides released by CRF increases during gestation.