Fig. 1

Fetal plasma ACTH, cortisol and CBG and adrenal weight during the second trimester. Data points from individual fetuses are shown (circles for control and triangles for smoke-exposed, where groups are separated). Black lines indicate generalized linear regression, and grey fill denotes the confidence interval (0.95) around an individual regression. There was no effect of fetal sex on levels of ACTH, cortisol or CBG (n = 60). The interaction between fetal smoke exposure and gestational age on ACTH levels (a) approached significance, however (P = 0.052). Levels of cortisol (b) and CBG (c) were unaffected by age or maternal smoking. Levels of CBG decreased between 12 and 20 weeks (c; P = 0.038). Combined fetal adrenal weights increased between 12 and 20 weeks of gestation (d; P < 0.001; n = 109) with no effect of fetal sex or maternal smoking