Increased Plasma Concentration of N‐terminal Β‐lipotrophin and Unbound Cortisol During Pregnancy

Abou‐Samra, Abdul Badi; Pugeat, Michel; Déchaud, H.; Nachury, L.; Bouchareb, Belal; Fèvre‐Montange, M.; Tourniaire, J

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1984.tb00077.x

Cited by 81 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…As in previous studies, we have found here that the baseline levels in the pregnant women were considerably higher than controls [1,3]. It has been known for some time that the plasma concentration of both total cortisol and free cortisol increase during pregnancy and peak at the end of the third trimester [1].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Pregnant women become insensitive to cold stress

Kammerer

Adams²,

Castelberg

et al. 2002

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

173

118

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BackgroundThe function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is known to be altered during pregnancy, but it has not been tested with a natural stressor.MethodsA group of pregnant women (n = 10) were tested towards the end of pregnancy (mean 36.8 ± 2.5 weeks gestation) and about 8 weeks postpartum (mean 7.8 ± 1.5 weeks), together with a matched control group, with a one minute cold hand stressor test. Saliva samples were collected before and 10 and 20 minutes after the test, and stored for later radioimmunoassay of cortisol.ResultsThe control group showed a highly significant response to the test. The pregnant group showed no response, and the postpartum group a variable but non significant oneConclusionsThis shows that the HPA axis becomes hypofunctional to a natural stressor at the end of pregnancy. It is suggested that one possible evolutionary function for this is to protect the fetus from the stress responses of the mother.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Pregnant women become insensitive to cold stress

Kammerer

Adams²,

Castelberg

et al. 2002

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

173

118

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“…The highly significant correlation between maternal ACTH and cortisol levels, with slightly elevated cortisol levels, is in agreement with the results of previous reports [1,5].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Effects of betamethasone on maternal plasma cortiocotropin releasing factor, ACTH and cortisol during pregnancy

Tropper¹,

Goland²,

Wardlaw³

et al. 1987

Journal of Perinatal Medicine

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“…Maternal ACTH levels during the third trimester of pregnancy are higher than expected when analyzed in conjunction with the elevated level of free cortisol at that time (11,12). In addition, suppression of the morning plasma cortisol level by administration of dexamethasone at 2300 h is incomplete in pregnant women (13).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

High Levels of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunoactivity in Maternal and Fetal Plasma during Pregnancy*

Goland

Wardlaw

Stark

et al. 1986

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

281

104

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Corticotropin-releasing hormone immunoactivity (CRHi) was measured in the plasma of 31 pregnant women and 6 nonpregnant women as well as in the umbilical cord plasma of 40 term fetuses. CRHi was not detectable (less than 44 pg/ml) in the plasma of 6 nonpregnant women or in 6 women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Mean plasma CRHi rose progressively to 58 +/- 18 and 270 +/- 68 pg/ml during the second and third trimesters, respectively, and again became undetectable within 24 h after delivery. Mean CRHi in 40 umbilical cord plasma samples was 136 +/- 16 pg/ml. Gel filtration of both fetal and maternal plasma showed that the majority of the CRHi eluted in the same position as synthetic human CRH. There was no significant correlation between CRHi and either beta-endorphin or ACTH in umbilical cord plasma, suggesting that this CRHi may not be primarily responsible for the release of beta-endorphin and ACTH into fetal plasma at delivery. A close correlation (r = 0.82) was found between simultaneously obtained maternal and umbilical cord plasma CRHi in 10 maternal-fetal pairs, supporting a common source for this peptide in maternal and fetal circulation. A placental source for fetal and maternal CRHi was suggested by the finding of a higher CRHi concentration in the umbilical vein than in the umbilical artery and by the disappearance of this peptide from maternal plasma after delivery. We conclude that a large amount of CRHi is secreted by the placenta into both the maternal and fetal circulation during pregnancy and suggest that this may be an important modulator of the maternal and fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during gestation.

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Increased Plasma Concentration of N‐terminal Β‐lipotrophin and Unbound Cortisol During Pregnancy

Cited by 81 publications

References 29 publications

Pregnant women become insensitive to cold stress

Pregnant women become insensitive to cold stress

Effects of betamethasone on maternal plasma cortiocotropin releasing factor, ACTH and cortisol during pregnancy

High Levels of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunoactivity in Maternal and Fetal Plasma during Pregnancy*

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