Synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor stimulates adrenocorticotropin release in the ovine fetus over the last fifth of gestation.
Synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (0.1-1.0 micrograms) was injected intravenously to 6 chronically cannulated ovine fetuses between 104 and 149 days of gestation (term 142-152 days). Arterial plasma immunoreactive adrenocorticotropin was first elevated by this procedure if the fetuses were between 118 and 130 days of gestation, and an increased response occurred later in gestation. This suggests that a progressive reset of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal feedback relationship occurs over the last 2-3 weeks of gestation in the ovine fetus.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology*
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone