HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 547/1/107    most recent 2002.024349v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Poore, K. R. Articles by Fowden, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Poore, K. R. Articles by Fowden, A. L.

The effect of birth weight on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function in juvenile and adult pigs

K. R. Poore and A. L. Fowden

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Attig, J. Djiane, A. Gertler, O. Rampin, T. Larcher, S. Boukthir, P. M. Anton, J. Y. Madec, I. Gourdou, and L. Abdennebi-Najar Study of hypothalamic leptin receptor expression in low-birth-weight piglets and effects of leptin supplementation on neonatal growth and development Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 2008; 295(5): E1117 - E1125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S E Chadio, B Kotsampasi, G Papadomichelakis, S Deligeorgis, D Kalogiannis, I Menegatos, and G Zervas Impact of maternal undernutrition on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness in sheep at different ages postnatal J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2007; 192(3): 495 - 503. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Mostyn, J. C. Litten, K. S. Perkins, P. J. Euden, A. M. Corson, M. E. Symonds, and L. Clarke Influence of size at birth on the endocrine profiles and expression of uncoupling proteins in subcutaneous adipose tissue, lung, and muscle of neonatal pigs Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2005; 288(6): R1536 - R1542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. Mcmillen and J. S. Robinson Developmental Origins of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prediction, Plasticity, and Programming Physiol Rev, April 1, 2005; 85(2): 571 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. T. Alexander, A. E. Hendon, G. Ferril, and T. M. Dwyer Renal Denervation Abolishes Hypertension in Low-Birth-Weight Offspring From Pregnant Rats With Reduced Uterine Perfusion Hypertension, April 1, 2005; 45(4): 754 - 758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Poore and A. L. Fowden The effects of birth weight and postnatal growth patterns on fat depth and plasma leptin concentrations in juvenile and adult pigs J. Physiol., July 1, 2004; 558(1): 295 - 304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A L Fowden and A J Forhead Endocrine mechanisms of intrauterine programming Reproduction, May 1, 2004; 127(5): 515 - 526. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]