Fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: low birth weight and central HPA regulation
Fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: low birth weight and central HPA regulation
Fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed as an intermediary in the association between reduced fetal growth and adult cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Previous studies have shown that small size at birth is associated with increased fasting plasma cortisol and adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation. We have extended these studies by evaluating the salivary cortisol response to awakening and plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH stimulation and a dexamethasone-suppressed CRH (DEX/CRH) test in a group of low birth weight [LBW; <3.18 kg (7 lb), n = 58] and high birth weight [>3.86 kg (8.5 lb), n = 65] men aged 60–69 yr. Despite no difference in basal pituitary-adrenal activity or in their ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH, LBW men had significantly lower pituitary-adrenal responses in the DEX/CRH test. Although these findings do not explain the HPA abnormalities associated with LBW in previous studies, they provide further evidence of dysregulation of the HPA axis in people who were small at birth.
1227-1233
Ward, Alexandra M.V.
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Syddall, Holly E.
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Wood, Peter J.
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Chrousos, George P.
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Phillips, David I.W.
29b73be7-2ff9-4fff-ae42-d59842df4cc6
2004
Ward, Alexandra M.V.
d137a1e8-4c10-48c6-b366-07d2934fcd24
Syddall, Holly E.
a0181a93-8fc3-4998-a996-7963f0128328
Wood, Peter J.
30039979-9541-4a0a-8aef-0dfe53114e02
Chrousos, George P.
28beffd9-c486-4cf4-a012-06745681d811
Phillips, David I.W.
29b73be7-2ff9-4fff-ae42-d59842df4cc6
Ward, Alexandra M.V., Syddall, Holly E., Wood, Peter J., Chrousos, George P. and Phillips, David I.W.
(2004)
Fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: low birth weight and central HPA regulation.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89 (3), .
(doi:10.1210/jc.2003-030978).
Abstract
Fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed as an intermediary in the association between reduced fetal growth and adult cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Previous studies have shown that small size at birth is associated with increased fasting plasma cortisol and adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation. We have extended these studies by evaluating the salivary cortisol response to awakening and plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH stimulation and a dexamethasone-suppressed CRH (DEX/CRH) test in a group of low birth weight [LBW; <3.18 kg (7 lb), n = 58] and high birth weight [>3.86 kg (8.5 lb), n = 65] men aged 60–69 yr. Despite no difference in basal pituitary-adrenal activity or in their ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH, LBW men had significantly lower pituitary-adrenal responses in the DEX/CRH test. Although these findings do not explain the HPA abnormalities associated with LBW in previous studies, they provide further evidence of dysregulation of the HPA axis in people who were small at birth.
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Published date: 2004
Additional Information:
Supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant 1 R01 HD41107-01 (to D.I.W.P.)
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Local EPrints ID: 26110
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/26110
ISSN: 0021-972X
PURE UUID: ec13678b-cd4d-486f-a403-9f8841df9d99
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Date deposited: 12 Apr 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:59
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Author:
Alexandra M.V. Ward
Author:
Peter J. Wood
Author:
George P. Chrousos
Author:
David I.W. Phillips
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