title: The effect of birth weight on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function in juvenile and adult pigs.
abstract: Programming of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during prenatal and early postnatal life may explain, in part, the association between low birth weight (BW) and the increased incidence of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in later life. This study examined the effect of natural variations in BW on HPA axis function in juvenile and adult pigs. Low (< 1.47 kg) and high (> 1.53 kg) BW pure-bred Large White piglets from 15 litters were studied at 3 (n = 47) and 12 (n = 17) months of age. At each age, HPA axis function was tested by hypoglycaemic challenge (I.V. insulin; 0.5 IU (kg body weight)(-1)) and ACTH challenge (I.V. Synacthen, 2 microg (kg body weight)(-1)). At 3 months of age, adrenal size, the ratio of adrenal cortical to medullary area and stimulated cortisol concentrations were elevated in pigs that were of low BW and that remained small after birth. At 12 months of age, thinness at birth was associated with elevated adrenal responsiveness to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that impaired fetal and early postnatal growth are associated with altered HPA axis function in later life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. kpoore@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Poore
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fowden
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine