McMillen, I.Warnes, K.Adams, M.Robinson, J.Owens, J.Coulter, C.2006-07-052006-07-052000Endocrinology, 2000; 141(2):539-5430013-72271945-7170http://hdl.handle.net/2440/11804We have investigated the effects of fetal growth restriction, induced by restriction of placental growth and function (PR), on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD-1) and 11betaHSD-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in fetal tissues in the sheep, using Northern blot analysis. Fetal liver, kidney, and adrenals were collected from normally grown fetuses at 90 days (n = 6), 125 days (n = 6), and 141-145 days (n = 7) and from PR fetuses at 141-145 days (n = 6). Expression of 11betaHSD-1 mRNA in the fetal liver increased significantly between 125 days (7.4+/-0.8) and 141-145 days gestation (27+/-5.3). There was also an approximately 2-fold increase in the ratio of 11betaHSD-1 mRNA/18S rRNA expression in the PR group (53.8+/-7.9) compared with that in control animals at 141-145 days gestation. There was a significant decrease in 11betaHSD-2 mRNA in fetal adrenals between 125 days (41.6+/-2.4) and 141-145 days (26.7+/-1.1) gestation, but there was no effect of PR on the expression of adrenal 11betaHSD-2 mRNA. 11betaHSD-2 mRNA expression in the fetal kidney increased between 90 days (16.8+/-1.7) and 141-145 days gestation (31.7+/-4.3), but there was no effect of PR on the levels of 11betaHSD-2 mRNA in the fetal kidney. In summary, 11betaHSD-2 mRNA is differentially regulated in the fetal adrenal and kidney in the sheep fetus during late gestation. There is also a specific increase in the expression of 11betaHSD-1 mRNA in the liver of growth-restricted fetuses in late gestation. This suggests that there is increased hepatic exposure to cortisol in the growth-restricted fetus, which may be important in the reprogramming of hepatic physiology that occurs after growth restriction in utero.enLiverKidneyAdrenal GlandsPlacentaAnimalsSheepFetal Growth RetardationBody WeightIsoenzymesHydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1RNA, MessengerTranscription, GeneticGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalGene Expression Regulation, EnzymologicEmbryonic and Fetal DevelopmentGestational AgePregnancyFemaleJournal article000100167210.1210/endo.141.2.73380000848632000092-s2.0-003446403763082Robinson, J. [0000-0002-4515-6039]Owens, J. [0000-0002-7498-1353]