Plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH; top), proopiomelanocortin and pro-ACTH (POMC, middle), and cortisol (bottom) before, during, and after brachiocephalic occlusion (BCO, represented as hatched area). Data are reported from control (•) and nimesulide-treated (○) fetuses. Data are represented as mean values with vertical bars representing ± SE. *Statistically significant difference between groups.