Abstract
MATURATION of the foetal hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis appears to be involved in the initiation of parturition in several species1,2, but the limiting determinant of this maturational process has not yet been identified. In sheep, an increase in the plasma cortisol concentration of the foetus has been observed before parturition3,4 but it has been demonstrated that this increase is not preceded by an elevation in plasma ACTH5. It has been suggested that there is a maturation of the foetal adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation6,7 and perhaps activation of those enzymes specifically associated with cortisol production8. Recently we have shown that a primary prostaglandin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), is present in the plasma of the foetal lamb and that its concentration increases during late pregnancy9. Here we examine the possibility that prostaglandins may be an essential factor in the stimulation of corticosteroid production in the foetus and report a very rapid increase in foetal corticosteroids during PGES infusion into the common carotoid artery of foetal lambs.
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LOUIS, T., CHALLIS, J., ROBINSON, J. et al. Rapid increase of foetal corticosteroids after prostaglandin E2. Nature 264, 797–799 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/264797a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/264797a0
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