Treatment with dexamethasone's effects on pregnant women and their fetuses Guinea pigs' Thyroid and Adrenal Hormones

Abstract

Among the common small laboratory animals, the guinea pig has a thyroid and adrenal hormone pattern most similar to that in humans. Daily administration of 10mg Dexamethasone s/c from 55 days of pregnancy for 6 days resulted in a depression of fetal body and organ weight and depression of maternal and fetal plasma T4, T3, and cortisol concentration. However, an increase in fetal plasma T4 and T3 concentration rates suggests enhanced de-iodination of T4. In human fetuses, late in gestation, a rise in plasma cortisol may not be necessary for organ maturation. Considerable species differences have been observed concerning the type of hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. Keywords: Dexamethasone, fetal cortisol, Thyroxin, Triiodothyronine, Guinea pigs.