Effects of Increasing Gestation,Cortisol and Maternal Undernutrition on Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y Expression in the Sheep Fetus

We have characterized the localization and the ontogenetic changes in Neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) before birth and investigated the regulation of NPY expression by cortisol and undernutrition in the fetal sheep hypothalamus during late gestation. Using immunohistochemistry, we have identified NPY-containing neurons in the infundibular nucleus and the internal layer of the median eminence in fetal hypothalami collected between 110 and 147 days gestation. NPY projections were also present in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of fetal hypothalami at all ages between 110 days gestation and term. There was a significant increase in the amount of immunoreactive NPY/g hypothalamus between 87 and 113 days and 131–140 days gestation and a further significant increase after 141 days gestation. The total hypothalamic content of immunoreactive NPY increased significantly between 87 and 113 days and 141–145 days gestation. The levels of NPY mRNA: 18S rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus were significantly higher at 145–146 days gestation than at any earlier gestational age between 116 and 141 days gestation. Cortisol (2.5–3.0 mg/24 h) was infused intrafetally between 109 and 116 days gestation. The ratio of NPY mRNA: 18s rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus was significantly higher in the cortisol-infused group when compared with the saline-infused control group at 116 days gestation. Maternal, and hence fetal undernutrition, was induced between 110 and 146 days gestation. At 145–146 days gestation the ratio of NPY mRNA: 18S rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus was significantly higher in the undernutrition group when compared with control animals. We have therefore demonstrated that NPY is present in the hypothalamus of the sheep fetus before birth and that hypothalamic NPY content and NPY mRNA increase before delivery. We have also found that glucocorticoids and undernutrition stimulate increases in NPY mRNA levels in the hypothalamus before birth.     

Primary Health Care through a community based smoking-cessation program

The International Conference on Primary Health Care, meeting in Alma-Ata, in the Soviet Union, September 12, 1978, expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers and the world community, to protect and promote the health of all people of the world. The world was caught by the phrase which emerged from this conference, Health For All by the Year 2000 and many have examined the articles of the Alma-Ata declaration and tried to implement them in their corner of the world. This paper describes a community-based smoking-cessation program which was implemented in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, during the years 1980–1984. Primary to this project was the belief that people have the right and the duty to participate individually and collectively in planning and implementing their health care. This paper describes one community's effort in putting this belief into practice.Carol Smillie, B.N. BE.d. M.S.c. is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5, Katherine Coffin, BA, MEd is the Program Officer, Nova Scotia Office, Health Promotion Directorate Health and Welfare Canada, 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada B3J 1P3. Kathryn Porter, B.A. (Gen)., is the Information and Education Coordinator, Nova Scotia Division Canadian Cancer Society. Brenda Ryan, B.A., M.B.A. is Program Evaluation Analysist, Nova Scotia Department of Health, 6088 Hollis Street, Halifax. Nova Scotia, Canada. This Project was funded by Health and Welfare Canada, Nova Scotia Department of Health, Nova Scotia Division Canadian Cancer Society, Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Professor Carol Smillie.