Ontogeny of endocrine (ACTH, vasopressin, cortisol) responses to hypotension in lamb fetuses.

We studied the ACTH, vasopressin (AVP), and cortisol responses to nitroprusside-induced hypotension in 27 chronically cannulated lamb fetuses between 0.53 and 0.98 gestation. Age-related differences in the hormonal responses to hypotension were found. Hypotension was associated with peak AVP levels of 7.8 +/- 2.7 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) in animals less than 0.68 gestation and 63.5 +/- 20 pg/ml in animals 0.89-0.98 gestation (P less than 0.05). The peak ACTH response was 95 +/- 20 pg/ml in the youngest animals and 380 +/- 111 pg/ml in animals 0.83-0.88 gestation (P less than 0.05). These observations suggest that maturation of the systems (possibly neuroendocrine) subserving the hormonal responses occurs in utero. Fetal plasma cortisol levels did not increase in response to the increase in ACTH except in animals 0.89-0.98 gestation. At this time, the basal plasma cortisol levels were high (58.8 +/- 16.8 pg/ml) and the ACTH response to hypotension was attenuated. Taken together, these findings suggest functional negative feedback regulation of ACTH by cortisol in the late gestation fetus.