Pulsatility of glucocorticoid hormones in pregnancy: Changes with gestation and obesity.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) activity is decreased in obese pregnancy and associates with increased foetal size. Pulsatile release of glucocorticoid hormones regulates their action in target tissues. Glucocorticoids are essential for normal foetal growth, but little is known about glucocorticoid pulsatility in pregnancy. We aimed to investigate the ultradian rhythm of glucocorticoid secretion during obese and lean pregnancy and nonpregnancy.

Design

Serum cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone were measured by LC-MS/MS from samples obtained at 10-minute intervals between 08.00-11.00 hours and 16.00-19.00 hours, from 8 lean (BMI <25 kg/m² ) and 7 obese (BMI > 35 kg/m² ) pregnant women between 16-24 weeks ge

SUBMITTER: Stirrat LI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5887976 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature