Antenatal glucocorticoids reduce growth in appropriately grown and growth-restricted ovine fetuses in a sex-specific manner.
Antenatal glucocorticoids are administered to mature the fetal lungs before preterm birth. Glucocorticoids also have non-pulmonary effects, including reducing fetal body and brain growth. The present study examined whether glucocorticoid administration has a sex-specific effect on growth in appropriately grown (control) and intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetal sheep. IUGR was induced at 0.7 gestation in fetal sheep by single umbilical artery ligation. On Days 5 and 6 after surgery, IUGR or control fetuses were exposed to the synthetic glucocorticoid betamethasone (BM; 11.4mg) or saline via intramuscular maternal administration. On Day 7, a postmortem was conducted to determine fetal sex and weight. Compared with control fetuses, the birthweight of male and female IUGR fetuses was significantly reduced (by 18.5±4.4% (P=0.002) and 21.7±6.0% (P=0.001), respectively). Maternal administration of BM significantly reduced bodyweight in both control and IUGR fetuses (by 11.3±2.8% and 20.5±3.6% in control male and female fetuses, respectively; and by 22.9±3.1% and 38.3±3.4% in IUGR male and female fetuses, respectively; P<0.001 for all, versus control+saline) fetuses. In control and IUGR animals the degree of growth restriction was greater in females than males (P<0.05) following administration of BM. These data suggest that antenatal glucocorticoids reduce fetal growth in a sex-specific manner, with females more growth restricted than males.
The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
Suzanne L
SL
Miller
Amy E
AE
Sutherland
Veena G
VG
Supramaniam
David W
DW
Walker
Graham
G
Jenkin
Euan M
EM
Wallace
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids