Intrauterine growth and the maturation process of adrenal function
Sachiko Iwata,
Masahiro Kinoshita,
Hisayoshi Okamura,
Kennosuke Tsuda,
Mamoru Saikusa,
Eimei Harada,
Shinji Saitoh,
Osuke Iwata
Affiliations
Sachiko Iwata
Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Masahiro Kinoshita
Centre for Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Hisayoshi Okamura
Centre for Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Kennosuke Tsuda
Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Mamoru Saikusa
Centre for Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Eimei Harada
Centre for Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Shinji Saitoh
Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Osuke Iwata
Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Backgrounds Environmental factors during early life alter the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation and increase the risk of diseases in later life. However, adrenal function at each developmental stage has not fully been investigated in relation to pathological antenatal conditions. Cortisol levels of newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are elevated during the neonatal period; however, when studied during early childhood, cortisol levels are reduced compared with their peers, suggesting that the HPA axis regulation might be altered from activation to suppression, the timing of which remains uncertain. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the presence of an interaction between intrauterine growth and postnatal age on cortisol levels in newborns hospitalised at a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods We performed a secondary analysis using a dataset from saliva samples of 62 newborns collected between 30 and 40 weeks corrected age. Interactions between postnatal age and clinical variables with regard to cortisol levels were assessed. Results The z-score of the birth weight and IUGR showed significant interactions with postnatal age on cortisol levels; cortisol levels were higher ≤5 days of birth and lower >14 days of birth than those in their peers without IUGR. Conclusion The adrenal function of newborns with IUGR might be altered from activation to suppression within the first several weeks of life. Longitudinal studies need to address when/how IUGR alters adrenal functions, and how these responses are associated with diseases during adulthood.
