Abstract
Glucocorticoids are vital for lung maturation. We previously showed that cortisol is lower in obese pregnancy. Whether this is maintained at delivery is unknown but is clinically relevant as maternal and cord blood cortisol levels are correlated and offspring of obese are more likely to need neonatal respiratory support. We hypothesized that glucocorticoids are lower in maternal and cord blood at delivery in obese pregnancies. Glucocorticoids (cortisol and corticosterone) and their inactive versions (cortisone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone) were measured by LC-MS/MS in maternal and cord plasma from 259 Caucasian women at delivery (BMI 18–55 kg/m2). Analyses adjusted for labour status, delivery mode, offspring gender, birthweight and gestational age. Cortisol and corticosterone were significantly higher in maternal than cord blood. Inactive versions were significantly higher in cord than maternal blood. Increased maternal BMI associated with lower maternal cortisol, corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone. Despite significant positive correlations between maternal and cord blood glucocorticoid levels, increased maternal BMI was not associated with lower cord blood glucocorticoid levels. Conditions at delivery may overcome any potential negative effects of low maternal glucocorticoids on the fetus in the short-term. This may not preclude the longer-term effects of fetal exposure to lower glucocorticoid levels during obese pregnancy.
Highlights
Glucocorticoids are vital for fetal growth and lung maturation
Such as labour and mode of delivery. We tested this hypothesis by testing associations of maternal BMI with cortisol, corticosterone and their metabolites, measured in maternal and cord blood samples obtained at delivery from women across a range of obesity levels
Our findings demonstrate that increased maternal BMI was associated with lower maternal cortisol, corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone measured at time of delivery
Summary
Glucocorticoids are vital for fetal growth and lung maturation. This has been demonstrated therapeutically when glucocorticoids are administered antenatally to women at threat of preterm labour with consequent reduced respiratory morbidity in both extremely preterm[1], and nearer term babies[2]. To our knowledge there are no studies measuring maternal corticosterone levels at time of delivery and it is not known whether corticosterone levels differ in obese and lean pregnancy. We hypothesized that cortisol and corticosterone levels measured at the time of delivery would be lower in the maternal and cord blood of obese pregnancies than lean, even after adjusting for potentially confounding factors www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Such as labour and mode of delivery. We tested this hypothesis by testing associations of maternal BMI with cortisol, corticosterone and their metabolites, measured in maternal and cord blood samples obtained at delivery from women across a range of obesity levels
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