title: Role of catecholamines in maternal-fetal stress transfer in sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate whether in addition to cortisol, catecholamines also transfer psychosocial stress indirectly to the fetus by decreasing uterine blood flow (UBF) and increasing fetal anaerobic metabolism and stress hormones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven pregnant sheep chronically instrumented with uterine ultrasound flow probes and catheters at 0.77 gestation underwent 2 hours of psychosocial stress by isolation. We used adrenergic blockade with labetalol to examine whether decreased UBF is catecholamine mediated and to determine to what extent stress transfer from mother to fetus is catecholamine dependent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stress induced transient increases in maternal cortisol and norepinephrine (NE). Maximum fetal plasma cortisol concentrations were 8.1 ± 2.1% of those in the mother suggesting its maternal origin. In parallel to the maternal NE increase, UBF decreased by maximum 22% for 30 minutes (P < .05). Fetal NE remained elevated for >2 hours accompanied by a prolonged blood pressure increase (P < .05). Fetuses developed a delayed and prolonged shift toward anaerobic metabolism in the presence of an unaltered oxygen supply. Adrenergic blockade prevented the stress-induced UBF decrease and, consequently, the fetal NE and blood pressure increase and the shift toward anaerobic metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that catecholamine-induced decrease of UBF is a mechanism of maternal-fetal stress transfer. It may explain the influence of maternal stress on fetal development and on programming of adverse health outcomes in later life especially during early pregnancy when fetal glucocorticoid receptor expression is limited.
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. Electronic address: florian.rakers@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rakers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences and Welfare, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiffner
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiehntopf
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: W Nikolaus
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Kühn-Velten
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences and Welfare, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Otto W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas, San Antonio, School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nijland
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas, San Antonio, School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
authors.affiliation: Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D007773:Lactates / Q000032:analysis; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012756:Sheep; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates
keywords: catecholamines; fetal programming; fetus; placenta; stress transfer