Davies 2022 Biomolecules

Davies KL, Smith DJ, El-Bacha T, Wooding PFP, Forhead AJ, Murray AJ, Fowden AL, Camm EJ (2022) Cortisol regulates cerebral mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and morphology of the brain in a region-specific manner in the ovine fetus. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12060768

» Biomolecules 12:768. PMID: 35740893 Open Access

Davies Katie L, Smith Danielle J,  El-Bacha Tatiana,  Wooding Peter FP,  Forhead Alison J,  Murray Andrew J, Fowden Abigail L,  Camm Emily J (2022) Biomolecules

Abstract: In adults, glucocorticoids are stress hormones that act, partly, through actions on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to increase energy availability. Before birth, glucocorticoids are primarily maturational signals that prepare the fetus for new postnatal challenges. However, the role of the normal prepartum glucocorticoid rise in preparing mitochondria for the increased postnatal energy demands remains largely unknown. This study examined the effect of physiological increases in the fetal cortisol concentration on cerebral mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity near term (~130 days gestation, term ~145 days gestation). Fetal sheep were infused with saline or cortisol for 5 days at ~0.8 of gestation before the mitochondrial content, respiratory rates, abundance of the electron transfer system proteins and OXPHOS efficiency were measured in their cortex and cerebellum. Cerebral morphology was assessed by immunohistochemistry and stereology. Cortisol treatment increased the mitochondrial content, while decreasing Complex I-linked respiration in the cerebellum. There was no effect on the cortical mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity. Cortisol infusion had regional effects on cerebral morphology, with increased myelination in the cerebrum. The findings demonstrate the importance of cortisol in regulating the cerebral mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity prenatally and have implications for infants born preterm or after glucocorticoid overexposure due to pregnancy complications or clinical treatment. • Keywords: Brain, Cortisol, Fetus, Mitochondria • Bioblast editor: Plangger M • O2k-Network Lab: UK Cambridge Murray AJ

Labels: MiParea: Respiration, Developmental biology, Pharmacology;toxicology 

Organism: Other mammals  Tissue;cell: Nervous system  Preparation: Homogenate 

Coupling state: LEAK, OXPHOS  Pathway: N, S, NS  HRR: Oxygraph-2k 

2022-11