title: Presence of a diurnal rhythm in fetal prolactin secretion and influence of maternal nutrition.
abstract: The possible effect of altered maternal nutrition on fetal prolactin (PRL) secretion and the possible presence of a diurnal rhythm in fetal PRL secretion has been investigated in 11 fetuses aged between 132 and 140 days of gestation. Fetal PRL levels in 4 of 5 ewes fed once a day were high (greater than 40 ng/ml) and exhibited a distinct diurnal rhythm in PRL secretion. Fetal PRL levels in those fetuses where ewes fed 4-hourly (n = 6) were all low (less than 10 ng/ml) and did not exhibit a diurnal rhythm. This study suggests that frequent maternal feeding results in low fetal PRL concentrations and that maternal undernutrition results in high fetal PRL levels that exhibit a distinct diurnal rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bennet
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gluckman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins; D011388:Prolactin; D005947:Glucose