HF feeding for 1 week, but not 6 weeks, markedly increased ME CRH (ng/μg protein; Mean ± SE; 45.8 ± 11.5 1wk vs. 18.5 ± 3.0 6wks) compared to that under SC diet (18.6 ± 7.1; p < 0.05) in DIO rats. The gene discussed is CRH; the disease is hydrops fetalis.