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Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
These studies test the hypothesis that the
increased adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in pregnancy
reflect a reset of regulated plasma cortisol concentrations. Ewes were sham operated (Sham) or adrenalectomized (ADX) at ~108 days
gestation. Adrenalectomized ewes were replaced with aldosterone (3 µg · kg
1 · day1)
and with cortisol at either of two doses (ADX + 0.6 and ADX + 1.0 mg · kg1 · day1);
the ewes were also studied postpartum. Plasma cortisol concentrations in ADX + 0.6 ewes (5.3 ± 1.3 ng/ml) were similar to the Sham ewes postpartum (5.5 ± 0.6 ng/ml), whereas ADX + 1.0 concentrations (8.9 ± 1.0 ng/ml) were similar to pregnant Sham ewes (9.5 ± 1.9 ng/ml). Plasma ACTH concentrations were significantly increased in the
pregnant ADX + 0.6 ewes (273 ± 44 pg/ml) relative to pregnant Sham
ewes (84 ± 9 pg/ml) or the same ewes postpartum (42 ± 9 pg/ml). Plasma ACTH concentrations were not different among the groups postpartum. Acute increases in plasma cortisol to 15-25 ng/ml produced similar inhibition in all groups. These results suggest that
pregnancy resets the basal cortisol concentration required for
normalization of basal ACTH concentration.
adrenocorticotropic hormone; corticotropin; glucocorticoid; mineralocorticoid; feedback
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M. Keller-Wood and C. E. Wood Pregnancy alters cortisol feedback inhibition of stimulated ACTH: studies in adrenalectomized ewes Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2001; 280(6): R1790 - R1798. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Keller-Wood ACTH responses to CRF and AVP in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 1998; 274(6): R1762 - R1768. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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