Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-6-17
pubmed:abstractText
We hypothesized that urocortin might be produced in the pituitary of the late-gestation ovine fetus in a manner that could contribute to the regulation of ACTH output. We used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to identify urocortin mRNA and protein in late-gestation fetal pituitary tissue. Levels of urocortin mRNA rose during late gestation and were associated temporally with rising concentrations of pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. Urocortin was localized both to cells expressing ACTH and to non-ACTH cells by use of dual immunofluorescence histochemistry. Transfection of pituitary cultures with urocortin antisense probe reduced ACTH output, whereas added urocortin stimulated ACTH output from cultured pituitary cells. Cortisol infusion for 96 h in chronically catheterized late-gestation fetal sheep significantly stimulated levels of pituitary urocortin mRNA. We conclude that urocortin is expressed in the ovine fetal pituitary and localizes with, and can stimulate output of, ACTH. Regulation of urocortin by cortisol suggests a mechanism to override negative feedback and sustain feedforward of fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, leading to birth.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0193-1849
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
283
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
E165-71
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Autocrine Communication, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Cells, Cultured, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Drug Administration Routes, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Female, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Fetus, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Gestational Age, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Hydrocortisone, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Immunohistochemistry, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-In Situ Hybridization, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Oligonucleotides, Antisense, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Paracrine Communication, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Pituitary Gland, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Pituitary-Adrenal System, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Pregnancy, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-RNA, Messenger, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Sheep, pubmed-meshheading:12067857-Urocortins
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Urocortin: a mechanism for the sustained activation of the HPA axis in the late-gestation ovine fetus?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiology, Canadian Institute for Health Research Groups in Fetal and Neonatal Health and Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M55 1A8, Canada. hollow@mcmaster.ca
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't