Lecture 10- Pregnancy Pt. 2

Question 1

Maternal nutrition Good nutrients for mothers to intake for the fetus.

Answer 1

• Follic acid: required for proper closure of neural tube
• Iron (lots of new RBC’s) and Calcium (lots of new bones)

Question 2

Developmental plasticity hypothesis:

Answer 2

When mom is pregnant and she consumes “normal amounts of nutrients” her child will put on more adipose tissue

If mom is malnourished, the will have slowed growth and altered metabolism to allow it to survive. (it clings on to the little nutrients it has)

Question 3

Endocrinology of pregnancy

Answer 3

• Hormones are secreted by the both the placenta and corpus luteum
• In first trimester, HCG from the placenta tells the corpus luteum/ovary to make a lot of progesterone and estradiol.
• In second trimester, placenta secretes HCG, progesterone and estradiol. Since placenta is making progesterone and estradiol, the corpus luteum/ovary will make a little less.
• In third trimester, placenta makes all of HCG, progesterone, estradiol. Corpus luteum/ ovary makes none.
• After 8 weeks of pregnancy, the corpus luteum shrinks.

Question 4

What are progesterone and estrogen doing during pregnancy?

Answer 4

• Progesterone feeds back to keep LH/FSH low. And it keeps the uterus intact
• Estrogen feeds back to keep LH/FSH low.

Question 5

Placenta also secretes these hormones:

Answer 5

• Human placental lactogen(hPL): increases sugar in blood and aids in preparation of milk production
• Relaxin: loosens connective tissue of symphis pubis and cervix; relaxes smooth muscle of uterus. (facilitates with delivery)

Question 6

GABA-a receptors and Progesterone relationship

Answer 6

Progesterone levels increase (during pregnancy), GABA-a receptor expression decreases.

Why? Because progesterone steals the spot on the GABA-a receptors and inhibits GABA-a. Making it less likely to fire action potentials.