Maternal undernutrition alters triiodothyronine concentrations and pituitary response to GnRH in fetal sheep

Rae, MT; Rhind, SM; Kyle, CE; Miller, D W; Brooks, AN

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine which hormones may have a role in the expression of maternal undernutrition effects on reproductive function, in both the developing fetus and the adult offspring. This was undertaken by measuring the effects of long-term maternal undernutrition on metabolic hormone profiles and pituitary responses to single doses of GnRH and GH-releasing factor (GRF) in fetal sheep. From mating, groups of ewes were fed rations providing either 100% (HIGH) or 50% (LOW) of estimated metabolisable energy requirements for pregnancy throughout the experiment until slaughter at approximately 119 days of gestation. Fetal and maternal blood samples were collected from 113 until 119 days of gestation, via carotid and jugular catheters respectively, and assayed for insulin, IGF-I, GH, thyroxine and triiodothyronine (T(3)). Undernutrition had no effects on fetal weight, fetal gonad weight of either sex, fetal insulin or IGF-I concentrations. Male LOW fetuses exhibited a significantly attenuated response (P

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2002
• Deposit Date: Jul 27, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Endocrinology
• Print ISSN: 0022-0795
• Publisher: BioScientifica
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 173
• Pages: 449-455
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1730449
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/317966