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Human placenta and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
A N Margioris1, M Grino, D Rabin
1Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
The human placenta influences the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy. It may secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and POMC peptides, stimulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Maternal plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels change during pregnancy.
- The rise in maternal ACTH is not explained by estrogen or progesterone levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the human placenta in modulating the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy.
- To explore potential placental mechanisms for regulating maternal ACTH levels.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene expression (POMC, CRH) in human placenta.
- In vitro studies on human term placenta to assess secretion of CRH and POMC-derived peptides.
- Measurement of bioactive CRH in pregnant women's plasma.
- In vitro studies on the effect of synthetic CRH on placental POMC peptide release.
Main Results:
- The POMC and CRH genes are expressed in the human placenta.
- Human term placenta secretes CRH and POMC-derived peptides in vitro.
- Plasma CRH in pregnant women is bioactive and at effective levels.
- Synthetic CRH stimulates placental POMC peptide release in vitro.
Conclusions:
- The human placenta may modulate the maternal HPA axis through CRH and POMC-derived peptide secretion.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the HPA axis-placenta interaction during pregnancy and delivery.