title: [Regulation of the fetoplacental unit. 2. Circadian changes in the sensitivity of the fetal hypothalamo-hypophyseal system for the feedback effect of cortisol].
abstract: The present study investigates the significance of a circadian changing sensitivity on the feed back action of cortisol for the foetal hypothalamic hypophyseal system. 9 patients with uncomplicated courses of pregnancy in the 37th to 40th week volunteered in this study. All of them delivered healthy babies at term. 5 patients received a continuous infusion of 0.25 mg ACTH1-24 (Synacthen) in the morning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (group I). To 4 patients an analogous ACTH infusion was applied in the evening from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. (group II). Blood specimens (5 ml) were drawn from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in group I and from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. in group II in 60 and 30 minutes intervals, respectively. Free plasma oestriol was measured by radioimmunoassay, total plasma cortisol by the protein binding method. In group I cortisol increased from 294.3 +/- 52.9 ng/ml to 774.5 +/- 170 ng/ml, whereas oestriol decreased from 13.1 +/- 6.1 ng/ml to 6.8 +/- 2.1 ng/ml (p less than 0.001). In group II cortisol rose from 267.5 +/- 76.2 ng/ml to 1010 +/- 284 ng/ml, whereas oestriol levels were suppressed from 21.7 +/- 10.5 ng/ml to 10.8 +/- 3.2 ng/ml (p less than 0.001). Two hours after starting ACTH infusion rising cortisol and falling oestriol concentrations were negatively correlated (r = -0.9657, p less than 0.001 in the morning; r = -0.9119, p less than 0.001 in the evening). Plasma oestriol levels were in the evening suppressed on an average of 10.9 ng/ml and exceeded the oestriol decrease in the morning (6.3 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Frauenklinik Homburg/Saar.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breckwoldt
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003366:Cosyntropin; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D003366:Cosyntropin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D004964:Estriol; D006854:Hydrocortisone
vernacular_title: Untersuchungen zur Regulation der fetoplazentaren Einheit. 2. Circadianer Wechsel der Empfindlichkeit des fetalen Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-systems für die Feed-back-Wirkung von Cortisol.