OVERWEIGHT IN OFFSPRING OF CORTISONE-TREATED PREGNANT RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pregnant albino rats were given 0.75 mg cortisone intramuscularly twice daily from the 12th to the 22nd day of pregnancy. The gestation period was 522 hours. The offspring of these rats were significantly heavier and longer than control offspring. The maternal adrenals and thymus were atrophied and the foetal adrenals were hypoplastic owing to the passage of cortisone through the placenta. For chemical analysis the offspring were divided into groups weighing more than and less than 4.50 g. It turned out that the heavier offspring in the cortisone group had significantly more total lipids and neutral fat than the controls at equal body weights. The lighter offspring in the cortisone group had significantly less neutral fat at equal body weights. No significant differences were found in cholesterol, phospholipids and water content at equal body weights. The total nitrogen content was similar at equal body weights and proportional to the weight excess of the offspring in the cortisone group. Possible mechanisms responsible for the overweight are discussed. This mechanism could be similar to that responsible for foetal overweight in diabetic pregnancy.