Serum cortisol level changes in the maternal-fetoplacental unit between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy.
Changes in the serum cortisol level of maternal venous, umbilical venous and umbilical arterial blood were studied separately between the 28th-36th weeks in cases of preterm deliveries (n = 74) and in the 40th week in cases of term delivery (n = 34). Results indicate that between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy the cortisol concentration increased only in the serum of the umbilical artery; the "umbilical arterial/umbilical venous concentration X100" quotient rose from a value of 86% measured at 28th-32nd weeks to 103% in the 40th week of pregnancy. Positive correlation was found between the cortisol concentration of the three samples. On the basis of these results the authors believe that fetal adreno-cortical activity increases before birth.
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
D006854:Hydrocortisone