Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids
Published on: April 25, 2016
Effects of betamethasone on maternal plasma corticotropin releasing factor, ACTH and cortisol during pregnancy
P J Tropper1, R S Goland, S L Wardlaw
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Abstract:
Corticotropin releasing factor immunoactivity (CRFi) has been identified in the plasma of women in the second half of gestation. There are several lines of evidence supporting a placental source for this hormone. Regulation of placental CRFi is poorly understood. In this study, the effect of a long-acting glucorticoid on the release of placental CRFi was investigated. Eleven women in the third trimester of pregnancy had plasma samples measured for CRFi, ACTH and cortisol before and after receiving 12 mg betamethasone. There was a significant decrease in ACTH (p less than 0.05) and cortisol levels (p less than 0.01) but no change in CRFi. It is concluded that the secretion of CRFi by the placenta is not inhibited by the administration of betamethasone while maternal levels of cortisol and ACTH are lowered. These results suggest that the acute regulation of placental CRFi is distinct from the regulation of hypothalamic CRF.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Hormonal Regulation
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

