title: Ghrelin in pregnancy and lactation.
abstract: Ghrelin and its receptors are found in the reproductive organs and in the placenta, clearly indicating a role for ghrelin in reproduction. Circulating ghrelin levels peak at mid-gestation, then with advancing gestational age declining ghrelin levels are observed. At the same time the maternal organism increases its fat mass, becomes insulin resistant and the growth hormone (GH) axis is dominated by placental growth hormone circulating in concentrations comparable to GH levels observed in acromegaly. After delivery, normalization of ghrelin levels occurs before the maternal fat mass is restored at prepregnant levels. The physiological course of ghrelin during the three trimesters of human pregnancy is discussed, as are the physiological roles ghrelin may subserve. Regulation of maternal energy intake may be the prevailing effect of ghrelin in pregnancy and lactation, but several other effects of ghrelin may coexist, including local effects. Finally, ghrelin secretion in the fetus is briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological/Obstetrical Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby Hospital, DK-8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuglsang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin