Effects of desamethasone in pregnancy on pituitary-adrenal functions of fetus and fetal rats
- VernacularTitle:孕期应用地塞米松对胎儿及胎鼠垂体肾上腺轴功能的影响
- Author:
Li CHEN
;
Yuhua WANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dexamethasone;
fetus;
treatment;
adrenal gland
- From:Journal of Third Military Medical University
2003;0(13):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the effects of desamethasone in pregnancy on fetal pituitary-adrenal functions.Methods From May 2003 to November 2003 24 cases of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregancy(ICP) in the third trimester were treated with dexamethasone.The levels of ACTH and cortisone in the umbilical blood were detected after delivery.The pregnant Wistar rats were intramuscularly injected of dexamethasone(1 mg?kg-1?d-1) from the pregnancy day 15 for 5 days as group B,while the rats in group A received no dexamethasone as control group.The levels of ACTH and cortisone of the rat fetus as well as the ACTH in fetal pituitary gland by immunohistochemistry were examined.Results The ACTH level in the umbilical blood of the fetus increased and the cortisone level decreased as compared to that of the control group.Treatment with desamethasone to pregnant rats resulted in enhanced expression of ACTH,increased serum ACTH concentration,and decreased concentration of cortisol in the rat fetal pituitary gland.Conclusion Treatment with dexamethasone in pregnancy causes some impact on the adrenal gland of the newborn rats in the near future.
