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Developmental Endocrinology in the Fetal-Placental Unit

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Principles of Perinatal—Neonatal Metabolism

Abstract

The placenta is a tissue of fetal origin embedded in the maternal uterine wall that permits exchange of vital nutrients and other elements essential for fetal growth, development, and survival. In addition, the placenta is a tissue capable of steroid and polypeptide synthesis. Hormonal products and interconversions resulting from these synthetic pathways appear to be critically important for ordered fetal growth and development. In some instances, notably estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) synthesis, the placenta converts steroid precursors synthesized in the fetal adrenal. Thus, in this instance, the placenta completes a task initiated in the fetal adrenal so that the fetus and placenta act as a unit, the fetoplacental unit. This chapter discusses endocrine aspects of the fetalplacental unit during gestation and their relevance to the physiology of normal intrauterine development as well as selected examples of pathologic disorders.

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Authors
  1. Ram K. Menon
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  2. Mark A. Sperling
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Brown University School of Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905-2401, USA

    Richard M. Cowett MD

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Menon, R.K., Sperling, M.A. (1998). Developmental Endocrinology in the Fetal-Placental Unit. In: Cowett, R.M. (eds) Principles of Perinatal—Neonatal Metabolism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1642-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1642-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7227-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1642-1

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