Postnatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in XXXX is influenced by age and sex, but not by prenatal growth restriction.

@entity1831 @entity742 @entity5463 @entity701 @entity3317
The relationship between impaired fetal nutrient supply and postnatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function was examined in ovine models of prenatal growth restriction (GR) caused by small placental size (SP) or by maternal undernutrition (UN). Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and @entity701 responses following @entity3317 -releasing hormone (CRH) plus @entity5463 ( @entity1831 ) challenge were examined at 9, 18 and 24 months in growth-restricted (GR-SP) and normal birthweight (control) females (Experiment 1), and at 6 months in growth-restricted (GR-SP, GR-UN) and normal weight males and females (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, GR-SP offspring were born early, were 40% lighter at birth and had higher fractional weight gains to weaning than control offspring. Baseline ACTH and @entity701 were independent of GR and @entity701 decreased with age. GR did not affect the HPA response to CRH+AVP challenge at any stage, but ACTH increased with age. In Experiment 2, birthweight was greater in control offspring than in GR-UN offspring, which had a higher birthweight again compared with GR-SP offspring. Only the latter group was born early and exhibited rapid catch-up growth to weaning. Neither nutritional route to GR altered HPA function at 6 months. Males grew faster than females and HPA responses after stimulation were lower in males. Together, the results of these studies demonstrate that postnatal HPA function in @entity742 is influenced by age and sex, but not by GR.
