Adrenocortical and Adipose Responses to High-Altitude-Induced, Long-Term Hypoxia in the Ovine Fetus

Figure 1

Effects of development under conditions of long-term hypoxia (LTH) on hypothalamic PVN and anterior pituitary corticotrope function in the late gestation ovine fetus. LTH upregulates expression of both CRH and AVP in the parvocellular division of the PVN. At the level of the anterior pituitary corticotrope, this increased hypothalamic drive results in increased processing of POMC to ACTH as well as ACTH release from the gland into the circulation. The changes at the level of the PVN and anterior pituitary result in increased basal circulating ACTH as well as an enhanced ACTH release in response to a subsequent acute stressor.