NEURAL AND ENDOCRINE CONTROL OF THE ADRENAL

描述：(改编自申请人的摘要)本研究是 旨在检验胎儿内脏神经是必要的这一假设 对于正常生理胎儿肾上腺皮质功能的反应 和慢性低氧血症。这一假说将在胎羊身上进行验证。 内脏神经消融术，预计肾上腺皮质 内脏神经切断后反应迟钝。已选择 胎儿肾上腺的血管、激素、细胞和分子反应 交感神经脊髓将被量化，以响应急性60 分钟(目标1)或慢性24小时(目标2)由以下因素引起的低氧挑战 将氮气注入母体的气管。荷尔蒙的终点将是 胎儿皮质醇、ACTH、AVP、PGE2、儿茶酚胺和母体皮质醇 血浆浓度。分子测定将包括 免疫细胞化学染色、原位杂交和Northern和Western 类固醇合成酶CRH、c-fos、c-jun、PNMT、酪氨酸的分析 羟化酶和糖皮质激素受体在胎儿肾上腺和 交感神经脊髓。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract) The present study is designed to test the hypothesis that fetal splanchnic nerves are necessary for normal physiological fetal adrenocortical function in response to acute and chronic hypoxemia. This hypothesis will be tested utilizing fetal sheep with splanchnic nerve ablation and it is anticipated that adrenocortical responses will be blunted after splanchnic nerve section. Selected vascular, hormonal, cellular, and molecular responses of the fetal adrenal and sympathetic spinal cord will be quantified in response to an acute 60 minute (Aim 1) or a chronic 24 hour (Aim 2) hypoxemic challenge induced by infusion of nitrogen into the maternal trachea. Hormonal endpoints will be fetal cortisol, ACTH, AVP, PGE2, catecholamines, and maternal cortisol plasma concentrations. Molecular determinations will include immunocytochemical staining, in situ hybridization, and Northern and Western analysis of steroidogenic enzymes, CRH, c-fos, c-jun, PNMT, tyrosine hydroxylase, and glucocorticoid receptors in the fetal adrenal and sympathetic spinal cord.