We previously have provided evidence that (1) steroidogenesis in the human fetal adrenal, which is normally accelerated during the last 6-10 weeks of gestation, is impaired in newborns of women with pregnancy complication (hypertension, diabetes, severe infections); (2) plasma lipoproteins, particularly low-density lipoproteins (LDL). facilitate fetal adrenal steroid secretion in vitro; (3) fetal plasma levels of cholesterol (c), especially LDL-C, appear to be regulated, in part, by the rate of uptake by the fetal adrenals, being high when the adrenal is quiescent and being low when adrenal activity is highest; (4) lung maturation appears to be related to the endocrine milieu of the fetus, especially those hormones produced directly or indirectly from the fetal adrenal. Thus, we purpose (1) to define the trophic regulation of the fetal adrenal during normal and complicated pregnancy by quantifying fetal plasma ACTH and other POMC-derived peptides throughout the latter half of gestation under varied circumstances of maternal/fetal health; (2) to elucidate mechanisms for the seemingly independent function of the fetal and neocortical zones of the human fetal adrenal by evaluating the utilization in steroidogenesis of lipoprotein-C assimilated by receptor- mediated and receptor-independent pathways and of C synthesized de novo in the separated zones of the fetal adrenal, processes as well as the production of steroidogenic enzymes and the LDL receptor in the fetal adrenal; and (4) to define the factors that regulate fetal plasma lipoproteins by investigating apolipoprotein synthesis by the fetal liver and by quantifying fatal plasma lipoprotein-c and apolipoproteins during normal and complicated pregnancy. The results of these studies should be fundamental to an understanding of several aspects of fetal development and of the differential regulation of zonal function in the adrenal and lipoprotein homeostasis during postnatal life.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD022969-03A1
Application #
3322936
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 2 (HED)
Project Start
1986-07-01
Project End
1994-06-30
Budget Start
1989-09-30
Budget End
1990-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Gordon, Yvette; Patterson, Tamula M; Parker Jr, C Richard (2009) Relation of glucose control in diabetic pregnancy to fetal cholesterol homeostasis. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 22:8-12
Patterson, Tamula M; Parker Jr, C R (2008) Intrapartum stress and lipid status of term infants: relation to fetal adrenal production of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 21:783-7
Parker Jr, C R; Atkinson, M W; Owen, J et al. (1996) Dynamics of the fetal adrenal, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B responses to antenatal betamethasone therapy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 174:562-5
Parker Jr, C R; Faye-Petersen, O; Stankovic, A K et al. (1995) Immunohistochemical evaluation of the cellular localization and ontogeny of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-4 isomerase in the human fetal adrenal gland. Endocr Res 21:69-80
Parker Jr, C R; Stankovic, A K; Falany, C N et al. (1995) Immunocytochemical analyses of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase in cultured human fetal adrenal cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:1027-31
Parker Jr, C R; Stankovic, A K; Falany, C N et al. (1995) Immunocytochemical analyses of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase in cultured human fetal adrenal cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:1027-31
Parker Jr, C R; Buchina, E S; Barefoot, T K (1994) Abnormal adrenal steroidogenesis in growth-retarded newborn infants. Pediatr Res 35:633-6
Parker Jr, C R; Falany, C N; Stockard, C R et al. (1994) Immunohistochemical localization of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase in human fetal tissues. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 78:234-6
Bradshaw, K D; Milewich, L; Mason, J I et al. (1994) Steroid secretory characteristics of a virilizing adrenal adenoma in a woman. J Endocrinol 140:297-307
Stankovic, A K; Dion, L D; Parker Jr, C R (1994) Effects of transforming growth factor-beta on human fetal adrenal steroid production. Mol Cell Endocrinol 99:145-51

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