Elevated Fetal Plasma Norepinephrine Elicits Perinatal Adaptations in β-Cell Function

The objective of this dissertation research was to determine the specific actions of chronically elevated catecholamines on; 1.) fetal growth and ß-cell function during the third trimester in vivo in an ovine model of placental insufficiency-induced intrauterine growth restriction (PI-IUGR), and 2.) regulation of insulin secretion in vitro utilizing the mouse insulinoma cell line Min6.At 0.7-gestation, fetal weights were not different but PI fetuses had lower (P<0.05) basal blood oxygen content, plasma glucose, IGF-1, and insulin concentrations and greater norepinephrine concentrations (891±211 vs. 292±65 pg/ml; P<0.05) compared to controls. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was lower in PI than control fetuses (0.34±0.03 vs. 1.08±0.06 ng/ml; P