Objective:To observe the effect of glucocorticoid exposure of pregnant rats on hippocampus SGK expression in rat offsprings,and to explore the related mechanism.Methods:Pregnancy was determined by examining vaginal smear in the morning of cohabiting.Pregnant rats were divided into control group and dexamethasone group,with each group containing 10 rats.Dexamethasone group was subcutaneously injected with dexamethasone(0.1 mg/ \[kg·d\] ) and control group was injected with normal saline.The hippocampuses of rat offsprings were collected 1 d，7 d,and 42 d after birth.Real-time PCR was used to determine SGK and GR mRNA expression.Results:The body weight of rat offsprings in the dexamethasone group was obviously lower than that in the control group at birth,then those in the dexamethasone group had a rapid growth.Prenatal exposure to dexamethasone significantly decreased the expression of SGK and GR mRNA in the hippocampuses of rat offsprings (1 d,7 d and 42 d after birth) compared with control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Prenatal exposure to glucocorticoid in pregnancy stage can decrease the hippocampus expression of SGK and GR in rat offsprings.