title: Growth and insulin dynamics in two generations of female offspring of mothers receiving a single course of synthetic glucocorticoids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Synthetic glucocorticoid administration to women threatening preterm delivery increases neonatal survival. However, mounting evidence shows that fetal exposure to glucocorticoid levels higher than appropriate for current maturation adversely programs offspring development. We examined fetal synthetic glucocorticoid multigenerational metabolic effects on F1 and F2 female offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  At 0.7 gestation, pregnant F0 ewes received 4 injections of dexamethasone (2 mg, approximately 60 ug.kg(-1) day(-1) 12 hours apart) or saline (control). F1 female offspring were bred to produce F2 female offspring. Postpubertal pancreatic β-cell function was tested in F1 and F2 by intravenous glucose tolerance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  F1 and F2 ewe lambs showed reduced birthweight and morphometrics, and similar increased fasting glucose and decreased intravenous glucose tolerance test β-cell response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration of multigenerational programming of later life β-cell response by clinically relevant doses of synthetic glucocorticoid indicating the need for study of long-term effects of fetal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoid.
authors.affiliation: The Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Laramie, WY, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Desiree R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shasa
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D003907:Dexamethasone