Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs
Abstract In utero heat stress (IUHS) alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis development in pigs; however, the mechanisms mediating this effect remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate cortisol transfer dynamics from the heat-stressed (HS) dam to the IUHS conceptus during early gestatio...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| author | MaryKate H. Byrd L. Kirsten Senn Alex Pasternak Kara R. Stewart Jay S. Johnson |
| author_facet | MaryKate H. Byrd L. Kirsten Senn Alex Pasternak Kara R. Stewart Jay S. Johnson |
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| description | Abstract In utero heat stress (IUHS) alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis development in pigs; however, the mechanisms mediating this effect remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate cortisol transfer dynamics from the heat-stressed (HS) dam to the IUHS conceptus during early gestation. We hypothesized that gestational HS would modify maternal cortisol secretion and increase conceptus cortisol exposure. Twenty-three gilts were exposed to thermoneutral (TN; n = 11) or HS (n = 12) conditions from gestation d 6 to 33. Maternal vaginal temperature, respiration rate, skin temperatures, and salivary cortisol concentrations were monitored. On d 33, dams were harvested to assess fetal and reproductive tract morphology and collect fetal and placental samples for glucocorticoid and 11β-HSD2 analyses. Heat-stressed gilts exhibited increased (P ≤ 0.01) vaginal temperature, respiration rate, and skin temperatures, but salivary cortisol was similar (P = 0.13). Total and viable fetuses per corpus luteum were reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in HS dams. Fetal tissue cortisone: cortisol tended to be reduced (P = 0.06) and was reduced in IUHS fetus amniotic fluid (P = 0.03). Amniotic fluid cortisone tended to decrease (P = 0.07), while cortisol tended to increase (P = 0.08) in IUHS fetuses. These data suggest IUHS increases fetal glucocorticoid exposure. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8da7a9f1ead54829b25dc4f4bdda96552025-08-20T03:45:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-12698-wEarly gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigsMaryKate H. Byrd0L. Kirsten Senn1Alex Pasternak2Kara R. Stewart3Jay S. Johnson4Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue UniversityDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue UniversityDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue UniversityDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue UniversityDivision of Animal Sciences, University of MissouriAbstract In utero heat stress (IUHS) alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis development in pigs; however, the mechanisms mediating this effect remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate cortisol transfer dynamics from the heat-stressed (HS) dam to the IUHS conceptus during early gestation. We hypothesized that gestational HS would modify maternal cortisol secretion and increase conceptus cortisol exposure. Twenty-three gilts were exposed to thermoneutral (TN; n = 11) or HS (n = 12) conditions from gestation d 6 to 33. Maternal vaginal temperature, respiration rate, skin temperatures, and salivary cortisol concentrations were monitored. On d 33, dams were harvested to assess fetal and reproductive tract morphology and collect fetal and placental samples for glucocorticoid and 11β-HSD2 analyses. Heat-stressed gilts exhibited increased (P ≤ 0.01) vaginal temperature, respiration rate, and skin temperatures, but salivary cortisol was similar (P = 0.13). Total and viable fetuses per corpus luteum were reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in HS dams. Fetal tissue cortisone: cortisol tended to be reduced (P = 0.06) and was reduced in IUHS fetus amniotic fluid (P = 0.03). Amniotic fluid cortisone tended to decrease (P = 0.07), while cortisol tended to increase (P = 0.08) in IUHS fetuses. These data suggest IUHS increases fetal glucocorticoid exposure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12698-w11β-HSD2Fetal cortisolFetal cortisoneIn utero heat stressMaternal cortisol |
| spellingShingle | MaryKate H. Byrd L. Kirsten Senn Alex Pasternak Kara R. Stewart Jay S. Johnson Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs Scientific Reports 11β-HSD2 Fetal cortisol Fetal cortisone In utero heat stress Maternal cortisol |
| title | Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| title_full | Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| title_fullStr | Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| title_short | Early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| title_sort | early gestation heat stress influences fetal biomarkers indicative of maternal cortisol transfer in pigs |
| topic | 11β-HSD2 Fetal cortisol Fetal cortisone In utero heat stress Maternal cortisol |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12698-w |
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