angiotensinogen and betamethasone-acetate-phosphate

Exposure to glucocorticoids in utero is associated with changes in organ function and structure in the adult. The aims of this study were to characterize the effects of antenatal exposure to glucocorticoids on glucose handling and the role of adipose tissue. Pregnant sheep received betamethasone (Beta, 0.17 mg/kg) or vehicle 24 h apart at 80 days of gestation and allowed to deliver at term. At 9 mo, male and female offspring were fed at either 100% of nutritional allowance (lean) or ad libitum for 3 mo (obese). At 1 yr, they were chronically instrumented under general anesthesia. Glucose tolerance was evaluated using a bolus of glucose (0.25 g/kg). Adipose tissue was harvested after death to determine mRNA expression levels of angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 1, ACE2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ). Data are expressed as means ± SE and analyzed by ANOVA. Sex, obesity, and Beta exposure had significant effects on glucose tolerance and mRNA expression. Beta impaired glucose tolerance in lean females but not males. Superimposed obesity worsened the impairment in females and unmasked the defect in males. Beta increased ACE1 mRNA in females and males and AGT in females only (

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Age Factors; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Angiotensinogen; Animals; Betamethasone; Biomarkers; Blood Glucose; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Gestational Age; Glucocorticoids; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Male; Obesity; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; PPAR gamma; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Renin-Angiotensin System; RNA, Messenger; Sheep, Domestic; Time Factors