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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
Published on: February 25, 2022
Pituitary gland and pregnancy
Nastaran Foyouzi1, Yr Frisbaek, Errol R Norwitz
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Abstract:
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is central to mammalian reproductive function, including conception, pregnancy maintenance, parturition, and breastfeeding. Pregnancy is associated with substantial physiologic changes within this endocrine axis to meet the demands of pregnancy, which include support of the fetus (volume support, nutritional and oxygen supply, clearance of fetal waste), protection of the fetus (from starvation, drugs, toxins), preparation of the uterus for labor, and protection of the mother from potential cardiovascular injury at delivery. This article reviews the anatomy, embryology, and physiology of the pituitary. The effect of pregnancy on pituitary structure and function, in health and disease, also is discussed.
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