{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T15:01:56Z","timestamp":1789657316523,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,31]],"date-time":"2017-08-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1504137600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,31]],"date-time":"2017-08-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1504137600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>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\u201355\u2009kg\/m<jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>). 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-10266-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,25]],"date-time":"2017-08-25T18:32:10Z","timestamp":1503685930000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":27,"title":["Glucocorticoids are lower at delivery in maternal, but not cord blood of obese pregnancies"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Laura I.","family":"Stirrat","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Just","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9262-2098","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Natalie Z. M.","family":"Homer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6916-2994","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ruth","family":"Andrew","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jane E.","family":"Norman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebecca M.","family":"Reynolds","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"10266_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-016-1154-y","volume":"16","author":"AS Morgan","year":"2016","unstructured":"Morgan, A. S. et al. Impact of obstetric interventions on condition at birth in extremely preterm babies: evidence from a national cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth \n                           16, 390, doi:10.1186\/s12884-016-1154-y (2016).","journal-title":"BMC Pregnancy Childbirth"},{"key":"10266_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.i5044","volume":"355","author":"G Saccone","year":"2016","unstructured":"Saccone, G. & Berghella, V. Antenatal corticosteroids for maturity of term or near term fetuses: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ \n                           355, i5044, doi:10.1136\/bmj.i5044 (2016).","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"10266_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2015.09.019","volume":"63","author":"LI Stirrat","year":"2016","unstructured":"Stirrat, L. I. et al. Decreased maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in very severely obese pregnancy: Associations with birthweight and gestation at delivery. Psychoneuroendocrinology \n                           63, 135\u2013143, doi:10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2015.09.019 (2016).","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"10266_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-2809-3","volume":"16","author":"SK Berglund","year":"2016","unstructured":"Berglund, S. K. et al. Maternal, fetal and perinatal alterations associated with obesity, overweight and gestational diabetes: an observational cohort study (PREOBE). BMC Public Health \n                           16, 207, doi:10.1186\/s12889-016-2809-3 (2016).","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"10266_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"644","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2009.10.003","volume":"35","author":"G Goedhart","year":"2010","unstructured":"Goedhart, G. et al. Maternal cortisol and offspring birthweight: results from a large prospective cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology \n                           35, 644\u2013652, doi:10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2009.10.003 (2010).","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"10266_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2826.2008.01659.x","volume":"20","author":"P Sarkar","year":"2008","unstructured":"Sarkar, P., Bergman, K., O\u2019Connor, T. G. & Glover, V. Maternal antenatal anxiety and amniotic fluid cortisol and testosterone: possible implications for foetal programming. J Neuroendocrinol \n                           20, 489\u2013496, doi:10.1111\/j.1365-2826.2008.01659.x (2008).","journal-title":"J Neuroendocrinol"},{"key":"10266_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2012.09.015","volume":"38","author":"E Baibazarova","year":"2013","unstructured":"Baibazarova, E. et al. Influence of prenatal maternal stress, maternal plasma cortisol and cortisol in the amniotic fluid on birth outcomes and child temperament at 3 months. Psychoneuroendocrinology \n                           38, 907\u2013915, doi:10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2012.09.015 (2013).","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"10266_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"707","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(05)60824-0","volume":"352","author":"R Gitau","year":"1998","unstructured":"Gitau, R., Cameron, A., Fisk, N. M. & Glover, V. Fetal exposure to maternal cortisol. Lancet \n                           352, 707\u2013708, doi:10.1016\/S0140-6736(05)60824-0 (1998).","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"10266_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e318295657f","volume":"122","author":"M Blomberg","year":"2013","unstructured":"Blomberg, M. Maternal obesity, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome. Obstet Gynecol \n                           122, 50\u201355, doi:10.1097\/AOG.0b013e318295657f (2013).","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"10266_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem.86.1.7090","volume":"86","author":"R Gitau","year":"2001","unstructured":"Gitau, R., Fisk, N. M., Teixeira, J. M., Cameron, A. & Glover, V. Fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress responses to invasive procedures are independent of maternal responses. J Clin Endocrinol Metab \n                           86, 104\u2013109, doi:10.1210\/jcem.86.1.7090 (2001).","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"10266_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.2011.03998.x","volume":"75","author":"AK Smith","year":"2011","unstructured":"Smith, A. K. et al. Predictors of neonatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity at delivery. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) \n                           75, 90\u201395, doi:10.1111\/j.1365-2265.2011.03998.x (2011).","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"key":"10266_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1471-0528.2006.00865.x","volume":"113","author":"SE Vogl","year":"2006","unstructured":"Vogl, S. E. et al. of delivery is associated with maternal and fetal encdocrine stress response. BJOG \n                           113, 441\u2013445 (2006).","journal-title":"BJOG"},{"key":"10266_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1080\/01443610410001645389","volume":"24","author":"K Mears","year":"2004","unstructured":"Mears, K., McAuliffe, F., Grimes, H. & Morrison, J. J. Fetal cortisol in relation to labour, intrapartum events and mode of delivery. J Obstet Gynaecol \n                           24, 129\u2013132, doi:10.1080\/01443610410001645389 (2004).","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol"},{"key":"10266_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0063684","volume":"8","author":"KE Wynne-Edwards","year":"2013","unstructured":"Wynne-Edwards, K. E., Edwards, H. E. & Hancock, T. M. The human fetus preferentially secretes corticosterone, rather than cortisol, in response to intra-partum stressors. PLoS One \n                           8, e63684, doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0063684 (2013).","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"10266_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/scitranslmed.aaf9074","volume":"8","author":"M Nixon","year":"2016","unstructured":"Nixon, M. et al. ABCC1 confers tissue-specific sensitivity to cortisol versus corticosterone: A rationale for safer glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Sci Transl Med \n                           8, 352ra109, doi:10.1126\/scitranslmed.aaf9074 (2016).","journal-title":"Sci Transl Med"},{"key":"10266_CR16","first-page":"4979","volume":"86","author":"CL McTernan","year":"2001","unstructured":"McTernan, C. L. et al. Reduced placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 mRNA levels in human pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction: an analysis of possible mechanisms. J Clin Endocrinol Metab \n                           86, 4979\u20134983 (2001).","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"10266_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.1016\/S0143-4004(03)00103-6","volume":"24","author":"VE Murphy","year":"2003","unstructured":"Murphy, V. E. & Clifton, V. L. Alterations in human placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 with gestational age and labour. Placenta \n                           24, 739\u2013744 (2003).","journal-title":"Placenta"},{"key":"10266_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1457","DOI":"10.1016\/j.peptides.2005.10.002","volume":"27","author":"CA Sandman","year":"2006","unstructured":"Sandman, C. A. et al. Elevated maternal cortisol early in pregnancy predicts third trimester levels of placental corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH): priming the placental clock. Peptides \n                           27, 1457\u20131463, doi:10.1016\/j.peptides.2005.10.002 (2006).","journal-title":"Peptides"},{"key":"10266_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"969","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9378(75)90358-0","volume":"122","author":"UC Nwosu","year":"1975","unstructured":"Nwosu, U. C., Wallach, E. E., Boggs, T. R. & Bongiovanni, A. M. Possible adrenocortical insufficiency in postmature neonates. Am J Obstet Gynecol \n                           122, 969\u2013974 (1975).","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"10266_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2265.1997.1230939.x","volume":"46","author":"R Benediktsson","year":"1997","unstructured":"Benediktsson, R., Calder, A. A., Edwards, C. R. & Seckl, J. R. Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a key regulator of fetal glucocorticoid exposure. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) \n                           46, 161\u2013166 (1997).","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"key":"10266_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2008.10.005","volume":"34","author":"V Glover","year":"2009","unstructured":"Glover, V., Bergman, K., Sarkar, P. & O\u2019Connor, T. G. Association between maternal and amniotic fluid cortisol is moderated by maternal anxiety. Psychoneuroendocrinology \n                           34, 430\u2013435, doi:10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2008.10.005 (2009).","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"10266_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0117084","volume":"10","author":"AM Holme","year":"2015","unstructured":"Holme, A. M., Roland, M. C., Lorentzen, B., Michelsen, T. M. & Henriksen, T. Placental glucose transfer: a human in vivo study. PLoS One \n                           10, e0117084, doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0117084 (2015).","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"10266_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2015.07.414","volume":"61","author":"V Bellisario","year":"2015","unstructured":"Bellisario, V. et al. High-fat diet during pregnancy acts as a stressor increasing maternal glucocorticoids\u2019 signaling to the fetus and disrupting maternal behavior in a mouse model. Psychoneuroendocrinology \n                           61, 10, doi:10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2015.07.414 (2015).","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"10266_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237 e231","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2014.03.025","volume":"211","author":"M Desai","year":"2014","unstructured":"Desai, M. et al. Maternal obesity and high-fat diet program offspring metabolic syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol \n                           211, 237 e231\u2013237 e213, doi:10.1016\/j.ajog.2014.03.025 (2014).","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"10266_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1095\/biolreprod.116.139451","volume":"95","author":"RC Crew","year":"2016","unstructured":"Crew, R. C., Mark, P. J., Clarke, M. W. & Waddell, B. J. Obesity Disrupts the Rhythmic Profiles of Maternal and Fetal Progesterone in Rat Pregnancy. Biol Reprod \n                           95, 55, doi:10.1095\/biolreprod.116.139451 (2016).","journal-title":"Biol Reprod"},{"key":"10266_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"964","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2004.05.052","volume":"191","author":"HM Ehrenberg","year":"2004","unstructured":"Ehrenberg, H. M., Mercer, B. M. & Catalano, P. M. The influence of obesity and diabetes on the prevalence of macrosomia. Am J Obstet Gynecol \n                           191, 964\u2013968, doi:10.1016\/j.ajog.2004.05.052 (2004).","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"10266_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem.87.1.8157","volume":"87","author":"R Andrew","year":"2002","unstructured":"Andrew, R., Smith, K., Jones, G. C. & Walker, B. R. Distinguishing the activities of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in vivo using isotopically labeled cortisol. J Clin Endocrinol Metab \n                           87, 277\u2013285, doi:10.1210\/jcem.87.1.8157 (2002).","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-017-10266-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-017-10266-5","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-017-10266-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,23]],"date-time":"2022-12-23T10:04:53Z","timestamp":1671789893000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-017-10266-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,31]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10266"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-017-10266-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,8,31]]},"assertion":[{"value":"26 April 2017","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"27 July 2017","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"31 August 2017","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing Interests"}}],"article-number":"10263"}}