To determine whether tissue production of the IGFs is altered when fetal growth is retarded, IGF-I and -II mRNAs were measured in tissues of fetal sheep subjected to placental restriction and the relationships between IGF gene expression, circulating IGF protein and fetal growth were examined. The majority of potential placental attachment sites were surgically removed from the uterus of 12 non-pregnant ewes to restrict placental size in a subsequent pregnancy. Blood and tissues were collected at 121 days of gestation (term=150) in 12 fetuses with restricted placental size and eight normal fetuses. IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA was detected by solution hybridization/ribonuclease protection assay in placenta and all fetal tissues studied. IGF-I mRNA was most abundant in skeletal muscle and liver and IGF-II mRNA was highest in kidney and lung. Restriction of placental size reduced fetal weight by 17% and reduced the pO2 (18%) and glucose concentration (23%) of fetal blood. Placental restriction also reduced IGF-I mRNA in fetal muscle (P<0·002), lung (P<0·05) and kidney (P<0·01) but had no significant effect on IGF-II mRNA in any tissue. IGF-I mRNA in fetal liver, kidney and skeletal muscle correlated positively with the concentration of IGF-I protein in fetal blood (P<0·01). There was no relationship between the concentration of IGF-II protein in fetal blood and IGF-II mRNA in any fetal tissue examined. The concentration of IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in fetal arterial blood plasma measured by RIA correlated positively with fetal weight and with plasma IGF-I. This study shows that restriction of placental growth in sheep reduces circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in the sheep fetus and reduces the capacity of the fetus to produce IGF-I at a number of tissue sites. Altered production of IGF-I, but not IGF-II, by fetal tissues may contribute to retarded fetal growth.
Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 146, 23–34
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