Female repro pt 4 Flashcards
What hormones prevent uterine contractions and promote pregnancy?
Progesterone
What hormone stimulates uterine contractility and production of CRH and prostaglandins?
Estrogens
What are pro labor hormones?
- CRH
- Prostaglandins
- Estrogens
What happens to hormones near the end of pregnancies?
Progesterone levels and estrogen levels switch making estrogen higher due to CRH
What does CRH from the fetus do?
Diffuses into the placenta and activates enzymes to convert progesterone to estradiol (17a hydroxylase, 17,20 desmolase, aromatase)
What leads to CRH release from the fetus?
Fetal crowding due to rapid growth at the end of pregnancy
What hormone causes softening (ripening) of the cervix?
Estradiol
What is the ferguson reflex?
- Contractions push baby head into cervix
- Stretching of cervix
- Stretch sensors activated
- Brain release oxytocin
- Uterine contration
- More stretching
What happens to oxytocin receptors in pregnancy?
At about 20 wks estrogen signaling increases the number of oxytocin receptors
What are the processes in which milk is made?
- Secretory pathway: proteins and lactose
- Transcellular: immunoglobulins
- Apocrine: Long chain lipids
- Transcellular: salts and water
- Paracellular: Salts and water
What are the steps if milk production?
- Mammogenesis
- Lactogenesis
- Galatokinesis
- Galactopoeisis
What hormone is central to milk production?
Prolactin
Suckling stimulates what?
Prolactin by reducing dopamine negative feedback
