Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone: Function and regulation

Corticotropin-releasing hormone is a neuropeptide placentally expressed among mammals only in primates. Its expression increases as much as 100 times during the last 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy and is paradoxically stimulated by glucocorticoids. Increasing evidence suggests that placental corticotropi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 1999, Vol.180 (1), p.S242-S246
Main Authors: Majzoub, Joseph A., Karalis, Katia P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - physiology
Embryonic and Fetal Development - physiology
Female
fetal adrenal development
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
parturition
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
placenta
Placenta - metabolism
Pregnancy
primates
Primates - physiology
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Summary:Corticotropin-releasing hormone is a neuropeptide placentally expressed among mammals only in primates. Its expression increases as much as 100 times during the last 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy and is paradoxically stimulated by glucocorticoids. Increasing evidence suggests that placental corticotropin-releasing hormone may have evolved in primates to stimulate fetal adrenocorticotropin release and adrenal steroidogenesis, thus satisfying the high demand for synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone, the predominant source of placental estradiol. Concomitant stimulation by placental corticotropin-releasing hormone of fetal cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone would couple the glucocorticoid effects on fetal organ maturation with the timing of parturition, an obvious benefit in postnatal survival. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:S242-6.)
ISSN:0002-9378
DOI:10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70708-8