Human epidemiological studies have shown that impaired intrauterine growth is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and other diseases in later life. These associations have led to the concept that adult disease can originate in utero as a result of developmental programming of key tissues and organ systems during suboptimal intrauterine conditions associated with poor fetal growth. Often, the control procedures are stressful per se and raise maternal glucocorticoid concentrations.

Franko et al. compared the effects of maternal injection with dexamethasone or saline with no treatment from 15 to 20 days of rat pregnancy on offspring growth and glucose metabolism. Relative to untreated animals, adult glucose tolerance was improved by maternal saline injection in males but not in females, while it was impaired in female offspring but not in male offspring of the dex-treated dams. Adult glucose tolerance was related to male body fat content but not to female body fat content. Dex and saline treatments of pregnant rats have differential sex-linked effects on the growth and glucose metabolism of their offspring, which indicates that the programming actions of natural and synthetic glucocorticoids may differ. Franko et al., Journal of Endocrinology.

DOI:10.1677/JOE-09-0390