Role of catecholamines in maternal-fetal stress transfer in sheep

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Florian Rakers ; MD^a ; ^{florian.rakers@med.uni-jena.de" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Sabine Bischoff ; DVM^b ; Rene Schiffner ; MD^a ; Michelle Haase ; MD^a ; Sven Rupprecht ; MD^a ; Michael Kiehntopf ; MD ; PhD^c ; W. Nikolaus Kü ; hn-Velten ; MD ; PhD^e ; Harald Schubert ; PhD^b ; Otto W. Witte ; MD ; PhD^a ; ^d ; Mark J. Nijland ; PhD^f ; Peter W. Nathanielsz ; MD ; PhD^f ; Matthias Schwab ; MD ; PhD^a
• 关键词：catecholamines ; fetal programming ; fetus ; placenta ; stress transfer
• 刊名：American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• 出版年：2015
• 出版时间：November 2015
• 年：2015
• 卷：213
• 期：5
• 页码：684.e1-684.e9
• 全文大小：1144 K

文摘

We sought to evaluate whether in addition to cortisol, catecholamines also transfer psychosocial stress indirectly to the fetus by decreasing uterine blood flow (UBF) and increasing fetal anaerobic metabolism and stress hormones.

Study Design

Seven pregnant sheep chronically instrumented with uterine ultrasound flow probes and catheters at 0.77 gestation underwent 2 hours of psychosocial stress by isolation. We used adrenergic blockade with labetalol to examine whether decreased UBF is catecholamine mediated and to determine to what extent stress transfer from mother to fetus is catecholamine dependent.

Results

Stress induced transient increases in maternal cortisol and norepinephrine (NE). Maximum fetal plasma cortisol concentrations were 8.1 ± 2.1% of those in the mother suggesting its maternal origin. In parallel to the maternal NE increase, UBF decreased by maximum 22% for 30 minutes (P < .05). Fetal NE remained elevated for >2 hours accompanied by a prolonged blood pressure increase (P < .05). Fetuses developed a delayed and prolonged shift toward anaerobic metabolism in the presence of an unaltered oxygen supply. Adrenergic blockade prevented the stress-induced UBF decrease and, consequently, the fetal NE and blood pressure increase and the shift toward anaerobic metabolism.

Conclusion

We conclude that catecholamine-induced decrease of UBF is a mechanism of maternal-fetal stress transfer. It may explain the influence of maternal stress on fetal development and on programming of adverse health outcomes in later life especially during early pregnancy when fetal glucocorticoid receptor expression is limited.