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J Physiol Volume 572, Number 1, 31-44, April 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.105254
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Symposium Report

Fetal programming of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function: prenatal stress and glucocorticoids

Amita Kapoor1, Elizabeth Dunn1, Alice Kostaki1, Marcus H. Andrews1 and Stephen G. Matthews1

1 Departments of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8

Prenatal stress (PS) and maternal exposure to exogenous glucocorticoids can lead to permanent modification of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function and stress-related behaviour. Both of these manipulations lead to increased fetal exposure to glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are essential for many aspects of normal brain development, but exposure of the fetal brain to an excess of glucocorticoids can have life-long effects on neuroendocrine function. Both endogenous glucocorticoid and synthetic glucocorticoid exposure have a number of rapid effects in the fetal brain, including modification of neurotransmitter systems and transcriptional machinery. Such fetal exposure permanently alters HPA function in prepubertal, postpubertal and ageing offspring, in a sex-dependent manner. Prenatal stress and exogenous glucocorticoid manipulation also lead to the modification of behaviour, brain and organ morphology, as well as altered regulation of other endocrine systems. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that the timing of exposure to PS or synthetic glucocorticoids has tremendous effects on the nature of the phenotypic outcome. Permanent changes in endocrine function will ultimately impact on health in both human and animal populations.

(Received 13 January 2006; accepted after revision 6 February 2006; first published online 9 February 2006)
Corresponding author S. G. Matthews: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8. Email: stephen.matthews{at}utoronto.ca


This report was presented at The Journal of Physiology Symposium on Endocrine Mechanisms, Toronto, Canada, 17 November 2005. It was commissioned by the Editorial Board and reflects the views of the authors.




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