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Foetal Steroidogenesis

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Hormones and Brain Function

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Abstract

During human pregnancy the foetus develops in a specific hormonal environment. Foetal distress or intrauterine death of the foetus are usually associated with remarkable hormonal changes. From the results of the past years it has become evident that the foetus as part of the integrated foeto-placental unit, introduced by Diczfalusy (1962, 1964), plays an important role in the hormonal balance of pregnancy. Since 1964 the foeto-placental unit concept has gained a general acceptance (e.g., Pecile and Finzi 1969). According to this concept the mid-gestation foetus and placenta form a steroid synthesizing functional unit capable of elaborating all steroid hormones that the placenta or the foetus alone is unable to produce.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary

    Gy. Telegdy

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  1. Gy. Telegdy
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  1. University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary

    K. Lissák (Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor of Physiology) (Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor of Physiology)

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© 1973 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary

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Telegdy, G. (1973). Foetal Steroidogenesis. In: Lissák, K. (eds) Hormones and Brain Function. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2007-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2007-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2009-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2007-4

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