title: Pituitary gland and pregnancy.
abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is central to mammalian reproductive function, including conception, pregnancy maintenance, parturition, and breastfeeding. Pregnancy is associated with substantial physiologic changes within this endocrine axis to meet the demands of pregnancy, which include support of the fetus (volume support, nutritional and oxygen supply, clearance of fetal waste), protection of the fetus (from starvation, drugs, toxins), preparation of the uterus for labor, and protection of the mother from potential cardiovascular injury at delivery. This article reviews the anatomy, embryology, and physiology of the pituitary. The effect of pregnancy on pituitary structure and function, in health and disease, also is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Foyouzi
authors.forename: Yr
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Frisbaek
authors.forename: Errol R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Norwitz
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior