Abstract
Objectives
Fetal adrenals are one of the main organs responsible for maturation and survival. Extant literature is not clear about whether second trimester fetal adrenals are capable of synthesizing secreting aldosterone.
Methods
We have taken 20 adrenals from fetuses of intrauterine death cases. None of the fetuses had any external malformations and obstetric history was unremarkable. The organs were weighed and homogenized. The supernatant was used for aldosterone estimation by ELISA.
Results
We consistently detected aldosterone in all the cases including second trimester. However, we did not see any correlation between aldosterone concentration and gestational age. It is striking to note that there are wide variations in the tissue levels of aldosterone across different gestational ages and also same period.
Conclusions
Tissue aldosterone levels in second trimester can be possibly induced by stress preceding intrauterine deaths. It is possible that functional status of adrenal is different in intrauterine death cases as opposed to elective abortions in second trimester.
Funding source: Intramural reserach grant
Award Identifier / Grant number: 0000
-
Research funding: None declared.
-
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
-
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
-
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
-
Ethical approval: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
References
1. Buja, LM, Barth, RF, Krueger, GR, Brodsky, SV, Hunter, RL. The importance of the autopsy in medicine: perspectives of pathology colleagues. Acad Pathol 2019;6:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374289519834041.Search in Google Scholar
2. Neary, N, Nieman, L. Adrenal insufficiency-etiology, diagnosis and treatment. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2010;17:217–23. https://doi.org/10.1097/MED.0b013e328338f608.Search in Google Scholar
3. Sucheston, ME, Cannon, MS. Development of zonular patterns in the human adrenal gland. J Morphol 1968;12:477–91 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051260408.Search in Google Scholar
4. Narasaka, T, Suzuk, i T, Moriya, T, Sasano, H. Temporal and spatial distribution of corticosteroidogenic enzymes immunoreactivity in developing human adrenal. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2001;174:111–20 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0303-7207(00)00445-7.Search in Google Scholar
5. Mesiano, S, Coulter, CL, Jaffe, RB. Localization of cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage, cytochrome P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase, and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isomerase steroidogenic enzymes in human and rhesus monkey fetal adrenal glands: reappraisal of functional zonation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993;77:1184–9 https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.77.5.8077311.Search in Google Scholar
6. Goto, M, Hanley, KP, Marcos, J, Wood, PJ, Wright, S, Postle, AD, et al.. Humans, early cortisol biosynthesis provides a mechanism to safeguard female sexual development. J Clin Invest 2006;116:953–60. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI25091.Search in Google Scholar
7. Liggins, GC. Adrenocortical-related maturational events in the fetus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1976;126:931–41 https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(76)90680-3.Search in Google Scholar
8. Martinerie, L, Pussard, E, Yousef, N, Cosson, C, Lema, I, Husseini, K, et al.. Aldosterone-signaling defect exacerbates sodium wasting in very preterm neonates: the Premaldo Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015;100:4074–81 https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-2272.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
9. Johnston, ZC, Bellingham, M, Filis, P, Soffientini, U, Hough, D, Bhattacharya, S, et al.. The human fetal adrenal produces cortisol but no detectable aldosterone throughout the second trimester. BMC Med 2018;16:1–6 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1009-7.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
10. Murphy, BE. Steroid arteriovenous differences in umbilical cord plasma: evidence of cortisol production by the human fetus in early gestation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1973;36:1037–8 https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-36-5-1037.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
11. Blankstein, K, Fujieda, FI, Reyes, C, Faiman, JS, Winter, D. Aldosterone and corticosterone in amniotic fluid during various stages of pregnancy. Steroids 1980;36:161–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-128x(80)90015-x.Search in Google Scholar
12. Jones, KL, Hanson, JW, Smith, DW. Palpebral fissure size in newborn infants. J Pediatr 1978;92:787 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(78)80156-5.Search in Google Scholar
13. Gilbert-Barness, E, Debich-Spicer, D, editors. Embryo and fetal pathology: color atlas with ultrasound correlation, 1st ed New York: Cambridge University Press; 2004:666 p.Search in Google Scholar
14. Campbell, AL, Murphy, BE. The maternal-fetal cortisol gradient during pregnancy and at delivery. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1977;45:435–40 https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-45-3-435.Search in Google Scholar
15. Bayard, F, Ances, IG, Tapper, AJ, Weldon, VV, Kowarski, A, Migeon, CJ. Transplacental passage and fetal secretion of aldosterone. J Clin Invest 1970;49:1389–93 https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106356.Search in Google Scholar
16. Pasqualini, JR, Wiqvist, N, Diczfalusy, E. Biosynthesis of aldosterone by human fetuses perfused with corticosterone at mid-term. Biochim Biophys Acta 1966;121:430–1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4165(66)90138-3.Search in Google Scholar
17. Mesiano, S, Jaffe, RB. Developmental and functional biology of the primate fetal adrenal cortex. Endocr Rev 1997;18:378–404 https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.18.3.0304.Search in Google Scholar
18. Nelson, HP, Kuhn, RW, Deyman, ME, Jaffe, RB. Human fetal adrenal definitive and fetal zone metabolism of pregnenolone and corticosterone: alternate biosynthetic pathways and absence of detectable aldosterone synthesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;70:693–8 https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-70-3-693.Search in Google Scholar
19. Dufau, ML, Villee, DB. Aldosterone biosynthesis by human fetal adrenal in vitro. Biochim Biophys Acta 1969;176:637–40 https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-2760(69)90232-x.Search in Google Scholar
20. Hubl, W, Lehmann, GW, Büchner, M, Dörner, G. Plasma aldosterone in newborns and children. Endokrinologie 1978;72:367–70.Search in Google Scholar
21. Kaplan, SL, Grumbach, MM, Shepard, TH. The ontogenesis of human fetal hormones: I. Growth hormone and insulin. J Clin Invest 1972;51:3080–93 https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI107135.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
22. Aubert, MJ, Grumbach, MM, Kaplan, SL. The ontogenesis of human fetal hormones. III. Prolactin. J Clin Invest 1975;56:155–64 https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI108064.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review Article
- Effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
- Original Articles
- A preliminary study on the relationship between environmental endocrine disruptors and precocious puberty in girls
- Tissue concentration of aldosterone in fetal adrenals of intrauterine death cases
- Complications of orthopedic treatment in patients diagnosed with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets
- Comparison of insulin sensitivity indices for detection of double diabetes in Indian adolescents with type 1 diabetes
- Evaluation of the growth and nutritional status of preschool children: a pilot study in the cold area of China
- Arterial hypertension is associated with an increased risk of metabolic complications in pediatric patient with obesity
- From pregnancy to breastfeeding: adequate maternal body mass index is essential to prevent a high body mass index in your children
- Screening of non-syndromic early-onset child and adolescent obese patients in terms of LEP, LEPR, MC4R and POMC gene variants by next-generation sequencing
- The association between vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine levels, and carotid intima-media thickness in children with obesity: a cross-sectional study
- Comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular disease risk in children with short stature due to isolated growth hormone deficiency: a case-control study
- Visceral adiposity is related to insulin sensitivity and inflammation in adolescents with obesity and mild sleep disordered breathing
- Recurrent hypoglycemic seizure as a presenting symptom of post-TBI hypopituitarism in children: a case report, review and proposed protocol
- Evaluation of the etiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric central diabetes insipidus
- Case Reports
- Clinical and radiologic evaluation of a Turkish family with hypochondroplasia and a rare FGFR3 variant
- Rituximab therapy in ROHHAD(NET) syndrome
- Ectopic parathyroid hormone as a rare aetiology of hypercalcemia with rhabdomyosarcoma: a new treatment strategy with zoledronic acid and Denosumab
- A 2-bp deletion mutation in SMPD1 gene leading to lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase deficiency in a Chinese consanguineous pedigree
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review Article
- Effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
- Original Articles
- A preliminary study on the relationship between environmental endocrine disruptors and precocious puberty in girls
- Tissue concentration of aldosterone in fetal adrenals of intrauterine death cases
- Complications of orthopedic treatment in patients diagnosed with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets
- Comparison of insulin sensitivity indices for detection of double diabetes in Indian adolescents with type 1 diabetes
- Evaluation of the growth and nutritional status of preschool children: a pilot study in the cold area of China
- Arterial hypertension is associated with an increased risk of metabolic complications in pediatric patient with obesity
- From pregnancy to breastfeeding: adequate maternal body mass index is essential to prevent a high body mass index in your children
- Screening of non-syndromic early-onset child and adolescent obese patients in terms of LEP, LEPR, MC4R and POMC gene variants by next-generation sequencing
- The association between vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine levels, and carotid intima-media thickness in children with obesity: a cross-sectional study
- Comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular disease risk in children with short stature due to isolated growth hormone deficiency: a case-control study
- Visceral adiposity is related to insulin sensitivity and inflammation in adolescents with obesity and mild sleep disordered breathing
- Recurrent hypoglycemic seizure as a presenting symptom of post-TBI hypopituitarism in children: a case report, review and proposed protocol
- Evaluation of the etiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric central diabetes insipidus
- Case Reports
- Clinical and radiologic evaluation of a Turkish family with hypochondroplasia and a rare FGFR3 variant
- Rituximab therapy in ROHHAD(NET) syndrome
- Ectopic parathyroid hormone as a rare aetiology of hypercalcemia with rhabdomyosarcoma: a new treatment strategy with zoledronic acid and Denosumab
- A 2-bp deletion mutation in SMPD1 gene leading to lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase deficiency in a Chinese consanguineous pedigree