CORRELATION OF PLASMA NON-CONJUGATED OESTRIOL AND PLASMA CORTISOL IN LATE HUMAN PREGNANCY

1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Reck ◽  
A. Renner ◽  
G. Sinns ◽  
M. Breckwoldt

ABSTRACT The present study concerns the diurnal variations of free plasma oestriol and their relationship to maternal plasma cortisol in late human pregnancy. Four pregnant women volunteered for the study. According to the half-life time of oestriol blood was drawn at intervals of 30 and 60 minutes, respectively, over a period of 24 hours. Free oestriol was measured by radioimmunoassay and cortisol was quantitated by a protein binding method. All patients exhibited a circadian rhytm for free oestriol with higher values in the evening and early night (14.4 ± 3.7 ng/ml) than in the morning (11.3 ± 2.3 ng/ml, P < 0.001). The course of oestriol followed plasma cortisol in a significant negative correlation (r = −0.566, P < 0.001). During the period of low cortisol concentration oestriol levels demonstrated the phenomenon of episodic secretion. The results suggest that the maternal adrenals predominantly regulate the circadian rhythm of free oestriol by a negative feed-back action on the foetal hypothalamus.

1979 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Reck ◽  
U. Noss ◽  
M. Breckwoldt

ABSTRACT The present study investigates the diurnal variations of free plasma oestradiol levels in late human pregnancy. The oestradiol levels are correlated to the maternal adrenal function as reflected by the plasma levels of cortisol. According to the half life time of oestradiol, blood samples were collected at short time intervals of 30 and 60 min, respectively. Three pregnant women volunteered in the study. Free oestradiol was measured by radioimmunoassay and cortisol was quantitated by a protein binding method. All patients exhibited a circadian rhythm for free oestradiol with significantly higher values in the early morning (28.3 ± 7.2 ng/ml) than in the afternoon and early night (21.2 ± 3.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001). The course of oestradiol followed in a moderate but significant correlation plasma cortisol (r = 0.34, P < 0.001). During the period of increasing cortisol the oestradiol levels demonstrated the phenomenon of episodic secretion. The results obtained suggest that the maternal adrenals predominantly regulate the diurnal rhythm of free oestradiol in late human pregnancy.


1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. COMLINE ◽  
L. W. HALL ◽  
R. B. LAVELLE ◽  
P. W. NATHANIELSZ ◽  
MARIAN SILVER

SUMMARY Intravascular catheters were placed in the umbilical, uterine and maternal peripheral circulations of 16 Jersey cows between 240 and 260 days of gestation. Foetal plasma cortisol, blood gases and pH, and maternal plasma oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol were measured in ten animals during late pregnancy and throughout spontaneous parturition; all delivered live foetuses although parturition was earlier than normal and the placenta was generally retained. The gradual pre-partum rise in foetal plasma cortisol during the last week of gestation (from 10–20 ng/ml 7 days before parturition to 51 ± 5 ng/ml in the last 3 h before delivery) was much less marked than the abrupt increase immediately after birth when the cortisol concentration invariably doubled. Maternal plasma oestrogen rose from 0.35 ± 0.04 ng/ml to 1·20 ± 0.11 ng/ml during the week before parturition. Progesterone concentrations remained stable until a sudden fall 1–2 days before delivery. The slight alterations in maternal plasma cortisol during this period were not statistically significant. The maternal plasma oestrogen levels were higher in the uterine vein than in the periphery, whereas uterine venous progesterone concentrations were significantly lower than in the peripheral circulation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. R54-R61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Jensen ◽  
Charles E. Wood ◽  
Maureen Keller-Wood

Previous work from this laboratory demonstrated that the elevation of maternal plasma corticosteroid concentrations during pregnancy is important for the support of fetal development. Reducing ovine maternal plasma cortisol concentrations to nonpregnant levels stimulates homeostatic responses that defend fetal blood volume. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that chronic decreases or increases in maternal plasma cortisol concentration alter uterine and placental blood flow and morphology. Three groups of pregnant ewes and their fetuses were chronically catheterized and studied: ewes infused with cortisol (1 mg·kg−1·day−1; high cortisol), ewes adrenalectomized and underreplaced with cortisol (0.5 mg·kg−1·day−1; low cortisol), and control ewes. The normal increment in uterine blood flow between 120 and 130 days was eliminated in the low-cortisol ewes; conversely, uterine blood flow was increased in the high-cortisol group compared with the control group. Fetal arterial blood pressure was increased in the high-cortisol group compared with controls, but there was no increase in fetal arterial pressure from 120 to 130 days of gestation in the low-cortisol group. The fetuses of both low-cortisol and high-cortisol groups had altered placental morphology, with increased proportions of type B placentomes, and overall reduced fetal placental blood flow. The rate of fetal somatic growth was impaired in both low-cortisol and high-cortisol groups compared with the fetuses in the intact group. The results of this study demonstrate that maternal plasma cortisol during pregnancy is an important contributor to the maternal environment supporting optimal conditions for fetal homeostasis and somatic growth.


1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. C. McMillen ◽  
G. D. Thorburn ◽  
D. W. Walker

ABSTRACT We have measured fetal and maternal plasma concentrations of cortisol, prolactin, GH and glucose in samples collected during a 24-h period in 14 animals between 127 and 142 days of gestation. There was a significant increase in both the mean daily plasma cortisol concentration and mean daily coefficient of variation (C.V.) of plasma cortisol concentrations after 135 days of gestation. There was also a significant variation in the fetal plasma cortisol concentrations with a peak occurring at 19.00 h. There was a significant sinusoidal diurnal rhythm in the plasma prolactin concentrations in both the fetal sheep and pregnant ewe and the maximal prolactin concentrations occurred between 19.00 and 23.00 h (fetal) and 21.00 and 01.00 h (maternal). Although no significant diurnal variation was detected in fetal plasma GH concentrations, there was a significant sinusoidal diurnal rhythm in the plasma GH concentrations of the pregnant ewe and the maximal maternal GH concentrations occurred between 21.00 and 01.00 h. Both the fetal and maternal plasma glucose concentrations showed a significant sinusoidal diurnal rhythm. The maximal maternal and fetal glucose concentrations were measured between 21.00 and 01.00 h and between 23.00 and 03.00 h respectively. We have therefore established that diurnal variations in plasma cortisol and prolactin concentrations exist prenatally. Whether the presence of such hormonal rhythms reflects the activity of an endogenous fetal circadian pacemaker remains to be established. J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 65–72


1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (4) ◽  
pp. R743-R748 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Wood

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that small increases in fetal cortisol (F) decreased basal fetal plasma renin activity (PRA) and completely inhibited the fetal adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) response to hypotension. The present study was designed to quantitate suppression of fetal ACTH and renin secretion by maternal F. Fetal and maternal femoral arteries and veins were chronically catheterized (11 fetuses, 118-129 days gestation). Maternal intravenous infusion of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 micrograms F X kg-1 X min-1 (n = 5-6) increased mean maternal and fetal cortisol and suppressed fetal ACTH responses to a subsequent period of hypotension in a dose-related manner. Increases in fetal plasma cortisol to 8.3 ng/ml completely suppressed the fetal ACTH response to hypotension. The results indicate that increases in maternal plasma cortisol concentration sufficient to produce modest increases in fetal plasma cortisol inhibit fetal ACTH secretion.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (4) ◽  
pp. L575-L583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Orgeig ◽  
Tamara A. Crittenden ◽  
Ceilidh Marchant ◽  
I. Caroline McMillen ◽  
Janna L. Morrison

Pulmonary surfactant is synthesized by type II alveolar epithelial cells to regulate the surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the air-breathing lung. Developmental maturation of the surfactant system is controlled by many factors including oxygen, glucose, catecholamines, and cortisol. The intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetus is hypoxemic and hypoglycemic, with elevated plasma catecholamine and cortisol concentrations. The impact of IUGR on surfactant maturation is unclear. Here we investigate the expression of surfactant protein (SP) A, B, and C in lung tissue of fetal sheep at 133 and 141 days of gestation (term 150 ± 3 days) from control and carunclectomized Merino ewes. Placentally restricted (PR) fetuses had a body weight <2 SD from the mean of control fetuses and a mean gestational PaO2<17 mmHg. PR fetuses had reduced absolute, but not relative, lung weight, decreased plasma glucose concentration, and increased plasma cortisol concentration. Lung SP-A, -B, and -C protein and mRNA expression was reduced in PR compared with control fetuses at both ages. SP-B and -C but not SP-A mRNA expression and SP-A but not SP-B or -C protein expression increased with gestational age. Mean gestational PaO2was positively correlated with SP-A, -B, and -C protein and SP-B and -C mRNA expression in the younger cohort. SP-A and -B gene expression was inversely related to plasma cortisol concentration. Placental restriction, leading to chronic hypoxemia and hypercortisolemia in the carunclectomy model, results in significant inhibition of surfactant maturation. These data suggest that IUGR fetuses are at significant risk of lung complications, especially if born prematurely.


1960 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. SHUSTER

SUMMARY Plasma cortisol concentrations increased after injections of nicotine. This increase was variable and was no greater than that seen after substitution of normal saline for nicotine. Plasma cortisol concentrations did not increase after nicotine in patients with hypopituitarism and after inhibition of corticotrophin release with triamcinolone. It is concluded that the increased plasma cortisol concentration after injection of nicotine was due to non-specific pituitary stimulation associated with the experimental procedure and not due to any direct effect of the nicotine. Nicotine resulted in a similar increase in plasma cortisol in four patients with diabetes insipidus. Neither rapid infusion of hypertonic mannitol nor ingestion of ethanol had a consistent effect on the plasma cortisol concentration. It is therefore concluded that the antidiuretic hormone is not the 'corticotrophin release factor' in man.


1980 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUDITH M. BAKER ◽  
SHEILA L. HANDLEY ◽  
GILL WALDRON ◽  
T. LESLIE DUNN

1984 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Whitely ◽  
DL Willcox ◽  
JA Newton ◽  
GD Bryant-Greenwood ◽  
PE Hartmann

The total (bound plus free) concentrations of progesterone, 20a-<iihydroprogesterone, oestradiol-17{:1 and cortisol were determined in the plasma of sows at three stages during pregnancy and more intensively from 5 days pre-partum to 5 days post-partum. The free fractions of progesterone, oestradiol-17{3 and cortisol were measured in the same samples by a rate dialysis method. Up to day 110 of gestation, the amounts of free hormone in plasma did not fluctuate independently of their total concentrations. During farrowing, the total and free concentrations of progesterone and cortisol varied independently of each other, whereas total and free oestradiol-17{3 declined simultaneously. The initiation of parturition was associated with a decrease in circulating total progesterone, and was accentuated by a decrease in the free fraction (P<O� 005) so that its active free concentration was only 20% of its day 1 pre-partum value. Total and free cortisol concentrations rose rapidly during labour so that at 12-18 h after birth of the first piglet 30% of that cortisol in maternal plasma was free hormone.


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