Glucocorticoid Maturation of Fetal Cardiovascular Function

The last decade has seen rapid advances in the understanding of the central role of glucocorticoids in preparing the fetus for life after birth. However, relative to other organ systems, maturation by glucocorticoids of the fetal cardiovascular system has been ignored. Here, we reviev% the effects of glucocorticoids on fetal basal cardiovascular function and on the fetal cardiovascular defense responses to acute stress. This is important because glucocorticoid-driven maturetional changes in fetal cardiovascular function under basal and stressful conditions are centra to the successful transition from intra- to extrauterine life. The cost-benefit balance for the car diovascular health of the preterm baby of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy administered to pregnant women threatened with preterm birth is also discussed.