Lecture 17: Reproduction 5 Flashcards
What two things produce RELAXIN? In response to what?
What are its 2 major functions?
- Placenta & corpus luteum
- In response to HCG
1) Inhibits myometrial contractions (ensure uterine quiescence in early pregnancy)
2) Relaxes pelvic bones and ligaments and softens cervix (may play a role in parturition)
Prolactin is produced from the placenta. True or False?
Essential for mammotrophic effects of _____ and _______
It stimulates lactogenic apparatus during gestation, but significant lactation is inhibited by high levels of what 2 hormones?
What stimulates growth of the lactotrophs and increases PRL secretion?
FALSE
from maternal pituitary
- estrogen
- progesterone
high levels of progesterone and estrogen
ESTROGEN
What clinical syndrome can occur due to infarction of the pituitary (large lactotroph growth and ischemia can occur if hemorrhage)
SHEEHAN’s SYNDROME
Levels of _____ remain high during gestation to stimulate the corpus luteum.
What begins producing progesterone & estradiol in the 2nd two trimesters?
What other hormones are increasing?
- HCG
- Placenta
- Chorionic Somatommamotropin & Prolactin
Placenta
Has limited capacity to synthesize cholesterol and
relies almost exclusively on maternal _____
as cholesterol source.
Major site of estrogen synthesis, even though it
lacks _______ activity, which converts
progesterone to androgens and estrogens.
- LDL
- 17,18 desmolase
- Uses androgenic substrates from mother and fetus
to synthesize estrogens
What is the major source of Fetal Estrogens (conversion of pregnenolone to DHEA-S)?
Conjugation of sulfur to DHEA makes it more _____ but also less ______.
- Fetal zone of adrenal gland (fetal adrenal is 20X larger)
2. more water soluble, less bioactive
DHEA diffuses back to ____ where both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast have abundant sulfatase and aromatase activity resulting in the production
of what?
What hydroxylates DHEA-S in the 16 position?
Where does this then diffuse where the sulfate group is removed and it is aromatized to ESTRIOL?
- placenta, ESTROGEN
- FETAL LIVER
- PLACENTA
Estriol is only made from maternal ovaries or adrenal glands.
True or False?
What can this serve as a parker of?
FALSE
- only made in the FETAL LIVER PRECURSORS not from maternal ovaries or adrenal glands
- Marker of fetal well - being
- Weak estrogenic activity
**
Although estriol is the major estrogen of pregnancy, it has weak estrogenic activity.
State the many functions of PROGESTERONE. (6)
Which is the most important?
How do high levels of E2/Progesterone affect lactogenesis?
- Inhibits uterine contractions
- Inhibits PROSTAGLANDIN production
- Decreases sensitivity to OXYTOCIN
- Upregulate B- Adrenergic = myometrial relaxation
- Decreases T cells & macrophage fx.
- Reduce # of leukocytes
- MAMMOGENESIS
- stimulates alveolar pouches of mammary glands
- increase in their capacity to secrete milk
E2/Progesterone preven lactogenesis (occurs after birth)
What are the 5 actions of estrogen?
- MAMMOGENESIS (promotes growth of ductal system of breast)
- Continuous growth of myometrium
- w/ Relaxin, softens pelvic ligaments and symphysis pubis
- Enlargement of external genitalia
- Late gestation involved in parturition
What happens when the ratio of progesterone to estrogen is the following:
- Progesterone»_space; estrogen
2.
Estrogen»_space; progesterone
- Progesterone»_space; estrogen
maintains uterine quiescence and sustenance of fetus - Estrogen»_space; progesterone
may play an essential role in parturition
What are 3 ways to prevent fertilization?
- Abstinence
- Coitus Interruptus
- Barries (condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps in combination with spermicides)
What are the actions of contraception? (7)
- Prevent LH surge and ovulation
- Decrease basal gonadotropin levels
- inhibit FOLLICULAR growth
- Fallopian tube motility is decreased (in vitro observation)
- Glandular atrophy in uterine endometrium
- Inhibits implantation of blastocyst
- Causes thick cervical mucus – inhibits sperm motility and migration
What hormone prevents LH secretion? (blocking LH surge)
What inhibits FSH release?
- progesterone
- Estrogen
- stabilizes endometrium and potentiates progestin action
What are the benefits of contraceptives? (4)
Risks/side effects? (4)
Non-Contraceptive Benefits
- Treatment of excessive menstrual bleeding
- Protection for pelvic inflammatory disease
- Dysmenorrhea (decreases thickening of endometrium and amount of bleeding during sloughing)
- Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women
Risks and Side Effects
- Contraindicated in heavy smokers over 35 and those with a history of estrogen-dependent breast carcinomas
- Hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke
- Depression
- Decreased libido