Fig. 3.

Altered amino acid and TCA cycle metabolism present in newborn cardiac tissue immediately following birth (A) and fetal serum before birth (B) due to chronic maternal cortisol exposure in late gestation. Citrate was significantly diminished in cortisol (CORT) serum at 0–2 days before delivery, while citrulline was significantly elevated in CORT serum at 3–6 days before delivery. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) degradation was significantly enriched in fetal serum following overrepresentation analysis (ORA), with BCAA and 3-hydroxyisobutyrate (both elevated in CORT serum) contributing to this pathway. Metabolites in red are significantly elevated in CORT compared with control specimens, while metabolites in blue are significantly elevated in control compared with CORT specimens. Solid arrows (→) reflect single enzymatic steps, while dashed arrows (- ->) reflect multiple enzymatic steps. Dashed lines with circles (- -•) reflect associations observed in the literature with no direct relationship.