Endocrinology in Relation to Reproduction

Endocrinology in Relation to Reproduction


HORMONES OF PLACENTA:

  • Syncytiotrophoblasts are the principal site of protein and steroid hormones
  • Placenta produces a variety of hormones of which protein and steroid hormones

PROTEIN HORMONES:

HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (hCG):

  • Glycoprotein.
  • LH-like activity
  • Hormone nonspecific α  (identical to LH, TSH , FSH) and hormone specific β subunit

Functions:

  • Rescue and maintenance of corpus luteum till 6 weeks of pregnancy
  • Stimulates Leydig cells of the male fetus at 8 week  to produce testosterone
  • Immunosuppressive activity
  • Diagnosis of hydatidiform mole
  • Stimulates both adrenal and placental steroidogenesis
  • Thyrotropic activity.
  • Promotes secretion of relaxin from the corpus luteum.

Abnormal rise in HCG:

  • Testicular embryonal tumors(Beta hCG)
  • Germ cell tumors
  • Extragonadal germinomas
  • Lung cancer
  • Yolk sac tumor
  • Hepatoma
  • Choriocarcinoma
  • Pancreatic islet tumors. 
  • Down’s syndrome(Increased free beta HCG)
  • Minimum hCG level that a urine pregnancy test can detect is 5 m IU/ ml
  • Plasma levels of hCG during pregnancy doubles every 2 days
60 – 70 days of pregnancy 100-200 IU/mL
100 -130 days 10–20 IU/mL
32 weeks 100-200 IU/mL
HUMAN PLACENTAL LACTOGEN (hPL):
  • Human chorionic somatomammotropin
  • 5 μg/mL to 25 μg/mL From 3rd week to 36 weeks of gestation
  • The plasma concentration of hPL is proportional to placental mass

Functions:

  • Antagonizes insulin
  • Maternal lipolysis
  • Promotes transfer of glucose and amino acids to the fetus
  • Angiogenic hormone
  • Growth and differentiation of breasts
PREGNANCY-SPECIFIC β-1 GLYCOPROTEIN (PS β-1G):
  • Detected in the maternal serum 18–20 days after ovulation
  • Immunosuppressor of lymphocyte proliferation and prevents rejection of the conceptus
Early pregnancy factor (EPF):
  • Immunosuppressant
  • Prevents rejection of the conceptus
  • Detectable in the circulation 6 – 24 hours after conception
Growth factors:
  • Inhibin
  • Activin
  • IGF-1 and 2
  • TGF-β
  • EGF
  • Functions
  • Immunosuppressive, paracrine and steroidogenic
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein—A (PAPP-A):
  • Immunosuppressant in pregnancy
STEROIDAL HORMONES:

ESTROGEN:
  • Site of its production :syncytiotrophoblast

Fetoplacental unit and biosynthesis of estriol:

  • Fetal adrenal gland and the placenta contain the complementary enzyme system
  • Estriol is first detectable at 9 weeks (0.05 ng/mL) and increases gradually to about 30 ng/mL at term.

Low estriol:

  • Fetal death
  • Fetal anomalies (adrenal atrophy, anencephaly, Down’s syndrome)
  • Hydatidiform moles
  • Placental sulfatase or aromatase deficiency

PROGESTERONE:
  • Before 6 weeks of pregnancy corpus luteum secretes 17-hydroxyprogesterone later by placenta.
  • 250 mg/day

Low progesterone levels:

  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Abortion

High values:

  • hydatidiform mole
  • Rh-isoimmunization. 
Functions of the steroid hormones:

Estrogen:

  • Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of uterine myometrium
  • Hypertrophy and proliferation of ducts of breast
  • Sensitizes the myometrium to oxytocin and prostaglandin
  • Ripen the cervix.

Estrogen+Progesterone:

  • Growth of the uterus & decidual changes of the endometrium
  • Lobuloalveolar system
  • Adaptation of the maternal organs
  • Antagonistic in the process of labor
  • Preserve gonadal function.

Progesterone:

  • Maintains uterine quiescence
  • Immunomodulatory role
DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF PLACENTAL HORMONES:

Diagnosis of pregnancy:

Presence of hCG:

  • Detected in the urine prior to the first missed period
  • RIA(most sensitive)
  • Biological

Follow-up cases who had trophoblastic tumors:

  • RIA for detection of hCG β subunit in hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma

Detection of function of fetoplacental unit:

  • Placental insufficiency and status of the fetus-in-utero are hPL and estriol

RELAXIN:

  • Produced from corpus luteum of the ovary, placenta and decidua
  • Relaxes myometrium, the symphysis and sacroiliac joints during pregnancy
  • Cervical ripening
CHANGES OF ENDOCRINE GLANDS DURING PREGNANCY:
GLAND MORPHOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGICAL
PITUITARY GLAND ↑weight & size ↓FSH, LH

↑Growth hormone

↑Serum prolactin

ACTH and CRH

THYROID GLAND Hyperplasia Serum iodine

↑BMR

Hyperthyroidism

↑Thyroxin-binding globulin

↑ Maternal total T4 and T3

Free T4 and T3  unchanged

ADRENAL CORTEX Slight enlargement ↑aldosterone

DOC

CBG

ACTH

Cortisol 

↑ CRH

↓ DHEAS

Testosterone

Androstenedione

PARATHYROID GLAND Hyperplasia 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D levels

calcitriol

PANCREAS Hypertrophy and hyperplasia Hyperinsulinemia
HORMONAL INFLUENCES NECESSARY FOR MAINTENANCE OF LACTATION:
The endocrine control of lactation can be divided into following stages

  • Preparation of breast (mammogenesis
  • Synthesis and secretion of milk by breast alveoli(lactogenesis)
  • Ejection of milk (galactokinesis)
  • Maintenance of lactation (galactopoiesis)

Exam Important

  • Minimum level of HCG detected by radio immunoassay is 0.001 IU/ml
  • Abnormal rise of HCG in a female of reproductive age group may indicate Choriocarcinoma
  • Increased free beta HCG levels are features of down’s syndrome
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin produced by the human placenta has LH-like activity
  • Human chorionic somatotropin participates in stimulation of ductal growth in the mammary gland during pregnancy
  • HCG  is glycoprotein
  • hCG can be detected in the urine prior to the first missed period
  • HCG titer, USG &  Chest x ray are used for a diagnosis of hydatidiform mole
  • Radioimmune assay  is the most sensitive or gold standard test for assessing HCG in maternal serum
  • Minimum hCG level that a urine pregnancy test can detect is 5 m IU/ ml
  • The corpus luteum of the ovary is maintained by the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin from The trophoblast cells
  • HCG is secreted by  Embryonal cell cancer,Yolk sac tumor, Choriocarcinoma & Polyembryoma
  • Placental HCG stimulates the gonads in male at 8 week to secret testosterone
  • Marker for testicular tumor is Beta hCG
  • During pregnancy, maximum urinary HCG level is reached in 70 days
  • Plasma levels of hCG during pregnancy doubles every 2 days
  • Alpha chain of HCG is identical to
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