CHAPTER-8

PLACENTAL HORMONESs
INTRODUCTION
The placenta is a temporary endocrine
organ formed during pregnarKcy, which pr
hormones important n the maintenance of a healthy
pregnancy anid in preparaton lor lat
and breastfeeding. The placenta connects the
developing foetus to the wall of the meshe
uterus during pregnancy. It grows in the wall
the uterine cavity by the umbilical cord. The
of the uterus and is attached to the foetus w
placenta is formed by cells that origjinate from t
foetus and is therefore the first of the foetal
organs to develop.
In addition to its role in
transporting molecules between mother and foetus, the placena
synthesizes huge and diverse number of hormones and cytokines that have major influeTc
a
on ovarian, uterine,
mammary and foetal physiology.
FUNCTION OF PLACENTA
The placenta contains a complex network of blood vessels that allow the exchange of
nutrients and gasses between the mother and the
developing foetus. This exchange occurs by
diffusion of gases and transport of nutrients between the two blood
supplies. The transfer of
nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the foetus, and waste
products and carbon dioxide
back from the foetus to the mother, allows the growth and
development of the foetus throughou
pregnancy. Antibodies can also pass from the mother to the foetus, providing protection
certain diseases. fro
In addition the transfer of substances, the placenta act as a barrier betwern the
to
mother and the foetus, preventing some harmful substances in the blood of the mother from
damaging the foetus. The placenta also acts as an endocrine organ, producing several important
hormones during pregnancy. These hormones work together to control the growth and
development of the placenta and the foetus, and act on the mother to support the
and prepare for childbirth. pregnanc
PLACENTAL HORMONES
The placenta produces two steroid hormones -

progesterone and estrogen

Progesterone: Progesterone itself is often called the hormone of pregnancy because or t
critical role it
plays in supporting the endometrium and hence on survival of the
Progesterone acts to maintain pregnancy by supporting the lining of the uterus (womb), foetu
provides the environment for the foetus to grow. If the endometrium is wnicn
the pregnancy will deprived progest
of
inevitably be terminated.
Progesterone also suppresses the
ability of the uterine smooth muscular layer 0 the
uterinewall to contract, which is important in
preventing labour from occurring end
of
pregnancy. This is often called the Delo
Towara the
end of "progesterone block" on the myometrium. u
gestation, this myometrial-quieting effect is antagonized by rising strogens,
levels ol
 ARoroductiveSystom

aarturition. Progesterone and other

facilitating parturit
185
facilta gonadotropins
pituitary
ikrer
dotropins |luteinizing hormone and progestins also potently inhibit
follicle stimulating secretion
ulation during pregnancy. hormone. This effect
nts
The placenta produces several
strogens: Th
distinct
s.alacenta
dtuceadbythe is estriol. estrogens.
Estrogen levels rise towards
In women, the major estrogen
growth of the uterus to accommodate the
timulate the growth the end of
so s n late pregnancy. Estrogen
late gestation induces
myometrial growing foetus. The high levels
f sgurition.
cstrogen
parturitiorn In this way, it
oxytocin receptors, thereby preparing the
prepares the uterus for labour.
nd development mammary glands (both ductal andEstrogen also stimulates the
uerus

ronth and development of of the ma

i n preparation for breastteeding. Like
alveolar growth) during
p r e g n a n c y

progestins, estrogens suppress

on from the pituitary gland. gonadotropin
PROTEIN HORMONESS
placenta also releases several protein hormones, which include
The
adotrophin, placental lactogen, placental growth hormone, relaxin andhuman chorionic
dotrophin, human plac
fects on the mother's endocrine system, foetal metabolism and
have e kisspeptin. They
for postpartum support of her offspring. preparation of the mother
Chorionic gonadotropins: These hormones have the effect of stimulating the
othe pituitary gonadotropins. In human the hormone is called human chorionicgonads, similar
r simply hCG Human chorionic
gonadotropin
gonadotrophin is the first hormone to be released from the
developing placenta and is the hormone that is measured in a pregnancy test. This hormone is
nroduced by foetal trophoblast cells. It maintains progesterone production from the corpus
luteum, a temporary endocrine gland found in the ovary.
Placental lactogens: These hormones are molecular relatives of prolactin and growth hormone.
The function of human placental lactogen is not completely understood, although, it is thought to
promote the growth of the mammary glands in preparation for lactation. They are thought to
foetal and maternal metabolism, perhaps mobilizing energy substrates for foetal use.
nodulate
Mlacental growth hormone: A similar role is played by placental growth hormone, which
predominates during pregnancy due to suppression of growth hormone produced by the
maternal pituitary gland.
800
200
Matermal blood 600 Placental
Concentrabons weight
(ng/ml) of: 400 (grams)
100
progesterone 200
estrogens
210 280
140
70
Days of Gestabon
estrogen hormone
correlation of progesterone and
Ig.8.1 Graph showing weight
with placental
throughout
 186 Physiology- Controlling and Coordinating Systems
Relaxin: Relaxin is a hormone thought to act
synergistically with progesterone to maintain
pregnancy. It also causes the relaxation of pelvic ligaments and softening of the cervix
at the
end of gestation and may therefore aid in
parturation.
Kisspeptin: It is a recently identified hormone, which is important for many aspects of
fertility. In the placenta, kisspeptin appears to regulate placentalgrowth into the human
womb (endometrium). A number of other lining of mother's
peptide hormones have been recently identified to
regulate blood vessel formation within the placenta, which is crucial in
exchange nutrients from the mother to baby; these peptide hormones include allowing the placenta to
(sEng) and placental growth factor (PIGF). soluble endoglin
The image below
depicts changes in concentrations of progesterone and
the maternal serum of humans
through gestation in correlation with placental estrogens in
growth.
EXERCISE