title: The ontogeny and regulation of corticosteroid secretion by the ovine foetal adrenal.
abstract: Adrenal glands of foetal sheep of 40 days gestation to term were incubated with and without ACTH or an increased [K-+]. With ACTH, the 40 day foetal adrenal was capable of producing more cortisol and aldosterone per g body weight than was the term adrenal. ACTH was a potent stimulus to aldosterone and cortisol production in foetuses aged 60-90 days, and this effect declined significantly in the 91-120 day period. An increased [K-+] was stimulatory to aldosterone production only after 120 days gestation. Peripheral blood levels of aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone were measured in foetuses 60 days to term and the levels of aldosterone and cortisol were significantly lower in 90-120 day foetuses than in the younger or older ones. Direct adrenal vein cannulation proved all five steroids to be secretory products of the foetal adrenal.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014469:Umbilical Arteries; D014470:Umbilical Cord; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011188:Potassium; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone