Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1995 Nov 15;489(Pt 1):235–241. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1995.sp021045

The effect of bilateral fetal adrenalectomy on fluid balance in the ovine fetus.

C A Benson 1, E M Wintour 1
PMCID: PMC1156807  PMID: 8583407

Abstract

1. Bilaterally adrenalectomized adult sheep, taken off replacement therapy, exhibit decreased plasma sodium, and increased plasma potassium, urinary sodium excretion and urinary sodium:potassium ratio. The hypothesis tested was that these effects would not be seen in adrenalectomized ovine fetuses, due to the mother being the major regulator of fetal fluid balance. 2. The fetuses of seven Merino ewes were bilaterally adrenalectomized at 120 +/- 0.3 days of gestation (term is 150 days) and a bladder cannula inserted. Urine flow and composition were measured six times between 125 and 142 days of gestation, and compared with results in seven control fetuses at the same gestational ages. At between 142 and 145 days of gestation, blood samples were taken from the ewe and fetus, they were killed and the volume and composition of amniotic and allantoic fluids measured. 3. Adrenalectomized fetuses had significantly lower (P < 0.05) plasma aldosterone concentration than that observed in intact fetuses (adrenalectomized, 92 +/- 16 pmol l-1; intact, 224 +/- 46 pmol l-1; P < 0.001). Plasma cortisol level was also lower (adrenalectomized, 8.6 +/- 1.4 nmol l-1; intact, 110.3 +/- 24.8 nmol l-1). Maternal plasma steroids were similar in both groups. 4. There were no significant differences in fetal urine flow rate, osmolality or composition until 139-142 days of gestation. At this time urine sodium:potassium ratio was significantly greater in adrenalectomized (P < 0.05) than intact fetuses. 5. There were no significant differences in maternal or fetal plasma solutes in the two groups and only minor alterations in the volume and composition of amniotic and allantoic fluid. The conclusion is that the major determinant of fetal fluid and electrolyte balance is placental transfer of water and electrolytes from the mother.

Full text

PDF
235

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Antolovich G. C., Perry R. A., Trahair J. F., Silver M., Robinson P. M. The development of corticotrophs in the fetal sheep pars distalis: the effect of adrenalectomy or cortisol infusion. Endocrinology. 1989 Mar;124(3):1333–1339. doi: 10.1210/endo-124-3-1333. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barnes R. J., Comline R. S., Silver M. Effect of cortisol on liver glycogen concentrations in hypophysectomized, adrenalectomized and normal foetal lambs during late or prolonged gestation. J Physiol. 1978 Feb;275:567–579. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1978.sp012209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bell R. J., McDougall J. G., Wang X., Wintour E. M. Effects of maternal sodium depletion on the composition of ovine fetal fluids. J Endocrinol. 1985 Nov;107(2):177–182. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1070177. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Boykin J., DeTorrenté A., Erickson A., Robertson G., Schrier R. W. Role of plasma vasopressin in impaired water excretion of glucocorticoid deficiency. J Clin Invest. 1978 Oct;62(4):738–744. doi: 10.1172/JCI109184. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brown E. H., Coghlan J. P., Hardy K. J., Wintour E. M. Aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone concentrations in the blood of chronically cannulated ovine foetuses: effect of ACTH. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1978 Jun;88(2):364–374. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0880364. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dodic M., Wintour E. M. Effects of prolonged (48 h) infusion of cortisol on blood pressure, renal function and fetal fluids in the immature ovine foetus. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1994 Dec;21(12):971–980. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1994.tb02659.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Drost M., Holm L. W. Prolonged gestation in ewes after foetal adrenalectomy. J Endocrinol. 1968 Mar;40(3):293–296. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0400293. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. GODING J. R., DENTON D. A. The effects of adrenal insufficiency and overdosage with DOCA on bilaterally adrenalectomized sheep. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci. 1957 Aug;35(4):301–320. doi: 10.1038/icb.1957.33. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gann D. S., Pirkle J. C., Jr Role of cortisol in the restitution of blood volume after hemorrhage. Am J Surg. 1975 Nov;130(5):565–569. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(75)90513-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gilbert W. M., Brace R. A. The missing link in amniotic fluid volume regulation: intramembranous absorption. Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Nov;74(5):748–754. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gilbert W. M. Rapid intramembranous absorption of water infused into the ovine allantoic cavity. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992 Dec;167(6):1742–1747. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(92)91769-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Gogerly R. L., Coghlan J. P., Morgenroth P., McDougall J. G. Two-compartment model of acute stimulation of aldosterone secretion in vivo by angiotensin II. Am J Physiol. 1993 Mar;264(3 Pt 1):E456–E464. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1993.264.3.E456. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kairaitis K., Lumbers E. R. The influence of endogenous mineralocorticoids on the composition of fetal urine. J Dev Physiol. 1990 Jun;13(6):347–351. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Li J., Saunders J. C., Gilmour R. S., Silver M., Fowden A. L. Insulin-like growth factor-II messenger ribonucleic acid expression in fetal tissues of the sheep during late gestation: effects of cortisol. Endocrinology. 1993 May;132(5):2083–2089. doi: 10.1210/endo.132.5.8477658. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lingwood B., Hardy K. J., Coghlan J. P., Wintour E. M. Effect of aldosterone on urine composition in the chronically cannulated ovine foetus. J Endocrinol. 1978 Mar;76(3):553–554. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0760553. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Quamme G. A. Magnesium homeostasis and renal magnesium handling. Miner Electrolyte Metab. 1993;19(4-5):218–225. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ray N. D., Turner C. S., Rawashdeh N. M., Rose J. C. Ovine fetal adrenal gland and cardiovascular function. Am J Physiol. 1988 Apr;254(4 Pt 2):R706–R710. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1988.254.4.R706. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Robillard J. E., Gomez R. A., VanOrden D., Smith F. G., Jr Comparison of the adrenal and renal responses to angiotensin II fetal lambs and adult sheep. Circ Res. 1982 Jan;50(1):140–147. doi: 10.1161/01.res.50.1.140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Robillard J. E., Ramberg E., Sessions C., Consamus B., Van Orden D., Weismann D., Smith F. G., Jr Role of aldosterone on renal sodium and potassium excretion during fetal life and newborn period. Dev Pharmacol Ther. 1980;1(4):201–216. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Serón-Ferré M., Jaffe R. B. The fetal adrenal gland. Annu Rev Physiol. 1981;43:141–162. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ph.43.030181.001041. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Siegel S. R., Fisher D. A. Ontogeny of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the fetal and newborn lamb. Pediatr Res. 1980 Feb;14(2):99–102. doi: 10.1203/00006450-198002000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Tangalakis K., Roberts F. E., Wintour E. M. The time-course of ACTH stimulation of cortisol synthesis by the immature ovine foetal adrenal gland. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1992 Jun;42(5):527–532. doi: 10.1016/0960-0760(92)90266-l. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Thrasher T. N. Baroreceptor regulation of vasopressin and renin secretion: low-pressure versus high-pressure receptors. Front Neuroendocrinol. 1994 Jun;15(2):157–196. doi: 10.1006/frne.1994.1007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Towstoless M. K., McDougall J. G., Wintour E. M. Gestational changes in renal responsiveness to cortisol in the ovine fetus. Pediatr Res. 1989 Jul;26(1):6–10. doi: 10.1203/00006450-198907000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Trahair J. F., Perry R. A., Silver M., Robinson P. M. Studies on the maturation of the small intestine of the fetal sheep. I. The effects of bilateral adrenalectomy. Q J Exp Physiol. 1987 Jan;72(1):61–69. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1987.sp003055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wacker W. E., Parisi A. F. Magnesium metabolism. N Engl J Med. 1968 Mar 28;278(13):712–717. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196803282781306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. White P. C., New M. I., Dupont B. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. (1). N Engl J Med. 1987 Jun 11;316(24):1519–1524. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198706113162406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Wintour E. M., Alcorn D., McFarlane A., Moritz K., Potocnik S. J., Tangalakis K. Effect of maternal glucocorticoid treatment on fetal fluids in sheep at 0.4 gestation. Am J Physiol. 1994 Apr;266(4 Pt 2):R1174–R1181. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1994.266.4.R1174. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Wintour E. M., Brown E. H., Denton D. A., Hardy K. J., McDougall J. G., Oddie C. J., Whipp G. T. The ontogeny and regulation of corticosteroid secretion by the ovine foetal adrenal. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1975 Jun;79(2):301–316. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0790301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Wintour E. M., Coghlan J. P., Hardy K. H., Hennessy D. P., Lingwood B. E., Scoggins B. A. Adrenal corticosteroids and immunoreactive ACTH in chronically cannulated ovine foetuses with bilateral adrenalectomy. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1980 Dec;95(4):546–552. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0950546. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Wintour E. M., Coghlan J. P., Hardy K. J., Lingwood B. E., Rayner M., Scoggins B. A. Placental transfer of aldosterone in the sheep. J Endocrinol. 1980 Aug;86(2):305–310. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0860305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Wintour E. M., Laurence B. M., Lingwood B. E. Anatomy, physiology and pathology of the amniotic and allantoic compartments in the sheep and cow. Aust Vet J. 1986 Jul;63(7):216–221. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb02999.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Wintour E. M., Marelyn E., Barnes A., Cahill F., Hardy K. J., Horacek I., Scoggins B. A. Potassium: aldosterone relationships in pregnant ewes and chronically cannulated ovine fetuses. Pediatr Res. 1979 Apr;13(4 Pt 1):265–267. doi: 10.1203/00006450-197904000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Wintour E. M., Shandley L. Effects of fetal fluid balance on amniotic fluid volume. Semin Perinatol. 1993 Jun;17(3):158–172. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wintour E. M., Smith M. B., Bell R. J., McDougall J. G., Cauchi M. N. The role of fetal adrenal hormones in the switch from fetal to adult globin synthesis in the sheep. J Endocrinol. 1985 Jan;104(1):165–170. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1040165. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES