Developmental Consequences of Prenatal Administration of Glucocorticoids in Rodents and Primates

摘要: Since their first use in 1972 by Liggins and Howie, prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) is commonplace antenatal medicine impede the preterm birth-associated morbid symptoms. Synthetic GCs are ligands of receptor endogenous GC, glucocorticoid receptor. Although GC warranted for its increased survival rate infants, repeated long-term effects has been questioned, investigation potentially harmful animal studies required. I will summarise existing findings studies, which include two robust phenotypes: a transient reduction body weight alteration hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal gland axis activity. Several assessed neurotransmitters’ concentrations animals exposed reported an overall activity serotoninergic dopaminergic systems. Prenatal administration also shown increase anxiety reduce cognitive abilities long term. All these have proposed be mediated via epigenetics programming, change gene expression caused mechanisms other than DNA sequence (e.g. promoter methylation). Interestingly, same mechanism mediate altered maternal behaviour, suggesting that developing individual, from conception until weaning, undergoing programming based on environment.