The effect of birth weight on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function in juvenile and adult pigs
The effect of birth weight on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function in juvenile and adult pigs
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 µg (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.
107-116
Poore, K.R.
b9529ba3-6432-4935-b8fd-6e382f11f0ad
Fowden, A.L.
e1f9c662-169e-4ea6-a5d3-d2ca130d7df3
2003
Poore, K.R.
b9529ba3-6432-4935-b8fd-6e382f11f0ad
Fowden, A.L.
e1f9c662-169e-4ea6-a5d3-d2ca130d7df3
Poore, K.R. and Fowden, A.L.
(2003)
The effect of birth weight on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function in juvenile and adult pigs.
Journal of Physiology, 547 (1), .
(doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2002.024349).
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 µg (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.
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Published date: 2003
Organisations:
Dev Origins of Health & Disease
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Local EPrints ID: 25916
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/25916
ISSN: 0022-3751
PURE UUID: e4538701-deb6-4886-8d30-493ec2a4207b
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Date deposited: 20 Apr 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:29
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Author:
A.L. Fowden
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