Perinatal steroid exposure and respiratory control during early postnatal life

Numerous factors involved in general homeostasis are able to modulate respiratory motor output. These include placental-derived steroids, which are necessary for maternal physiological adjustments during gestation, including respiratory stimulation. Despite the fact that these hormones exert potent effects on neural development in the fetus, the hypothesis of a developmental control of the neural respiratory network by placental-derived steroids has been approached experimentally only recently. The objective of this review is to summarize the role and mode of action of placental steroids on respiratory control in adult mammals and highlight the potential pathways by which such steroids are supplied to the developing fetus. Additionally, we present recent results showing that the beta estradiol and progesterone receptors are expressed in the carotid body of newborn male rats, thus supporting the hypothesis of receptor-mediated effect of estradiol and progesterone on carotid bodies.