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Impact of Pregnancy On Normal Pituitary Function

  • Chapter
Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy

Part of the book series: Endocrine Updates ((ENDO,volume 15))

Abstract

Placental and fetal hormone production are responsible for the major endocrine changes associated with pregnancy. The placenta, functioning relatively independently from maternal hypothalamic-pituitary regulatory factors, synthesizes thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and other derivatives of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), somatostatin, and growth hormone (GH, or somatotropin) (1, 2). (Please refer to chapter 2 for a comprehensive discussion of placental hormones.) The fetal pituitary, which develops relatively early in gestation, begins to secrete pituitary hormones within seven weeks’ postconception. Fetal pituitary hormones interact with and influence the placenta independently and in some ways differently than the maternal pituitary hormones.

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  1. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048

    Lilah F. Morris & Glenn D. Braunstein

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  1. Hospital das Clinicas, University of SĂŁo Paulo Medical School, Brazil

    Marcello D. Bronstein

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Morris, L.F., Braunstein, G.D. (2001). Impact of Pregnancy On Normal Pituitary Function. In: Bronstein, M.D. (eds) Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy. Endocrine Updates, vol 15. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1435-0_1

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