Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T20:29:37.040Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fetal Adrenal Gland Maturation in Growth-Retarded Twin Pregnancies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

R.J. Norman  and
S.M. Joubert
R.J. Norman*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Natal, Congella, South Africa
S.M. Joubert
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Natal, Congella, South Africa
*
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 17039, Congella 4013, Durban, South Africa

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Twenty-two twin pregnancies each with one growth-retarded and one normal twin fetus were examined to determine the effects of fetal growth retardation on the maturation of the adrenal gland with respect to cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). The growth-retarded twin fetuses (IUGR) had lower umbilical arterial concentrations of DHEAS than their siblings (IUGR 5.25 ± 2.4; non-IUGR 6.51 ± 2.9 μmol/l; p < 0.01), whereas cortisol concentrations were not statistically different (no labor, IUGR 1,134 ± 751, non-IUGR 1,140 ± 958 μmol/l; labor IUGR 2,062 ± 929, non-IUGR 1,609 ± 469 μmol/l). These data suggest that while the definitive zone of the fetal adrenal is as well-developed as in non-growth-retarded twins, the fetal zone shows reduced secretory capacity of Δ5-steroids. This supports the hypothesis that in growth retardation the adrenal gland shows features of increased maturation.

Keywords

Growth retardationMultiple pregnancyTwinsCortisolDehydroepiandrosterone sulphateFetal adrenal gland
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 31 , Issue 3-4: Special Issue on Twin Pregnancies , July 1982 , pp. 259 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1982

References

REFERENCES

1. Avery, ME (1974): Differential organ growth in Littermate rabbits. In Ciba Foundation Symposium 27 (new series), “Size at Birth.” Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, pp 83–89.Google Scholar
2. Avery, ME (1975): Intrauterine developmental retardation. J Pediatr 87:956–957.Google Scholar
3. Diczfalusy, E (1974): Endocrine functions of the human fetus and placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 119:419–433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Goldkrand, JW (1978): Unconjugated estriol and Cortisol in maternal and cord serum and amniotic fluid in normal and abnormal pregnancies. Obstet Gynecol 52:264–271.Google Scholar
5. Gould, JB, Gluck, L, Kulovich, MV (1977): The relationship between accelerated neurological maturity in chronically stressed pregnancies. Am J Obstet Gynecol 127:181–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Haymond, MW, Karl, IE, Pagliara, AS (1974): Increased gluconeogenic substrates in the small for gestational age infant. New Engl J Med 291:322–328.Google Scholar
7. Houlton, MCC (1979): The management of the twin fetus. M.D. Thesis, University of Natal.Google Scholar
8. Johannisson, E (1979): Aspects of the ultrastructure of the human adrenal cortex. Contrib Gynecol Obstet 5:109–130.Google Scholar
9. Kenny, FM, Preeyasombat, C, Richards, C (1967): Cortisol production rate VI. Hypoglycemia in the neonatal and postnatal period, and in association with dwarfism. J Pediatr 70:65–75.Google Scholar
10. Liggins, GC (1976): Adrenocortical-related maturational events in the fetus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 126:931–941.Google Scholar
11. Naeye, RL (1965): Probable cause of fetal growth retardation. Arch Pathol 79:284.Google Scholar
12. Norman, RJ, Bredenkamp, BLF, Joubert, SM, Beetar, C (1981): Fetal prostaglandin levels in twin pregnancies. Prostaglandins Med 6:309–316.Google Scholar
13. Reynolds, JW, Mirkin, BL (1973): Urinary steroid levels in newborn infants with intrauterine growth retardation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 36:576–581.Google Scholar
14. Robinson, JS (1979): Growth of the fetus. Br Med Bull 35:137–143.Google Scholar
15. Serón-Ferre, M, Jaffe, RB (1981): The fetal adrenal gland. Ann Rev Physiol 43:141–162.Google Scholar
16. Sher, G, Statland, BE, Knutzen, VK (1981): Evaluation of the small third-trimester fetus using the Foam stability index test. Obstet Gynecol 58:314–318.Google Scholar
17. Sybulski, S (1977): Umbilical cord plasma Cortisol levels in association with pregnancy complications. Obstet Gynecol 50:308–312.Google Scholar