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Steroid hormone changes in fetal blood during labor
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|April 15, 1977
Summary
Fetal plasma steroid levels, including pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), significantly increase during vaginal delivery, indicating heightened fetal adrenal activity. These findings offer insights into labor-related hormonal changes in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Maternal-Fetal Physiology
Background:
- Fetal steroid hormone levels play a crucial role in pregnancy and labor.
- Understanding these hormonal shifts is vital for assessing fetal well-being during delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and analyze the concentrations of key steroid hormones in fetal plasma during normal vaginal delivery.
- To investigate potential correlations between labor stages and fetal adrenal activity.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassays were employed to quantify pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), 16 alpha-hydroxy-DHA, estriol, and cortisol.
- Fetal plasma samples were collected during the first and second stages of labor, as well as from umbilical arterial and venous blood at delivery.
Main Results:
- Concentrations of pregnenolone, progesterone, DHA, 16 alpha-hydroxy-DHA, and cortisol (two different assays) showed significant increases in fetal blood during delivery compared to the first stage of labor.
- Specifically, pregnenolone and DHA, originating from the fetal adrenal gland, exhibited elevated titers.
- Cortisol levels also increased, though one assay showed a less pronounced rise.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a significant rise in fetal steroid hormone levels, particularly those of fetal adrenal origin, during the final stages of labor.
- These hormonal changes suggest enhanced fetal adrenal activity in response to the stress of vaginal delivery.
- The findings contribute to the understanding of fetal endocrine adaptation during childbirth.