[Modulation of hypothalamo-pituitary axis by stress during labor].
OBJECTIVE
The present study is aimed to investigate the function of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis of women during late pregnancy and term labor.


METHODS
Levels of hormones were measured in blood of 34 women undergoing spontaneous labor and elective cesarean section, 2 days before and after delivery, and during labour. Additionally, blood from the umbilical vein and artery was also collected.


METHODS
We have evaluated changes in corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in vein blood of 34 subjects. The concentrations of hormones were measured by dint of RIA method.


RESULTS
No significant correlation was found between hormone measurements and fetal outcome. CRH level in the umbilical vein was higher than in the umbilical artery, suggesting the placental origin of hormone. Prepartum CRH concentration was significantly higher in the group of spontaneously delivered patients. There were no correlations between CRH levels and ACTH and DHEA concentration in mother's blood plasma. In fetuses, higher prepartum CRH concentrations resulted in elevated levels of ACTH. No changes were found in DHEA concentration, in both mother and fetus.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that placental CRH may modulate a fetus's pituitary but not mother's. The observed high levels of this hormone play an important role mainly in preparation of mother and fetus for delivery.
Kliniki Perinatologii Instytutu Ginekologii i Połoznictwa AM w Łodzi.
Tomasz
T
Ochedalski
Krystyna
K
Zylińska
Agnieszka
A
Lachowicz
Tadeusz
T
Laudański
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000378:metabolism
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone