Pregnancy, Parturition and Lactation Flashcards
What is the intervillous space?
Where blood exchange occurs. The “capillaries” of the placenta.
What is the functional unit of the placenta?
Why?
Chorionic villi.
It has extensive branches and increased SA to allow for exchange.
Which arteries (from mom) empty into the intervillous space?
Spiral as.
Maternal BF
- Blood enters via pulsitile spurts from uterus.
- Enters intervillous space toward chorionic plate.
- Blood bathes the chorionic villi and then moves to the basal plate.
- Enters larger maternal veins –> pelvic vs. –> circulation.
3 principal factors that regulate maternal BF
Maternal arterial BF
Intra-uterine pressure
Uterine contractions
What do uterine contractions do to BF?
What is the result?
They slow arterial inflow and cease venous drainage.
The volume in the inervillous space increases to provide continual (but reduced) exchange.
Where does oxygenated/nutrient-rich and deoxy blood come from?
OXY - umbilical v. (1 vein)
DEOXY - umbilical as. (2 arteries)
2 functions of amniotic fluid
- Mechanical buffer (protection)
2. Excretion of waste products from fetus
What is the effect of diffusion of O2 from mom into the chorionic villi?
Causes the PO2 of blood in the intervillous space to drop
How does the fetus compensate for the low PO2 of maternal blood in the intervillous space?
Mainly because FHb has a higher affinity for O2.
-also, there is generally increased CO and increased O2 carrying capacity (Hb) levels are high in pregnancy.
Excretion of products across placenta Urea/creatinine Lipid-sol Hs Glc AAs Vits/minerals LDL/transferrin/Abs
Urea/creatinine: passive movement (F–>M)
Lipid-sol Hs: simple diffusion (both ways)
Glc: facilitated diffusion (M–>F)
AAs: secondary AT
Vits/minerals: AT
LDL/transferrin/Abs: receptor-mediated endocytosis
What cells of the placenta produce steroid/protein Hs?
Syncytiotrophoblasts
hCG Produced by: Composed of: Binding affinity: Half-life:
Produced by syncytiotrophoblasts.
Composed of aGSU and B-hCG
BInds to high affinity to LH R
Long half-life
hCG and uptake into maternal circulation
Rapidly accumulate in circulation.
Detectable within 24 hrs.
Double every 2 days for first 6 wks until wk 10 (peak), then they fall to constant level.
Primary action of hCG
+ LH Rs of CL to maintain progesterone production for first 10 wks
hPL (human placental lactogen) is structurally similar to:
GH and PRL
What happens to levels of hPL during pregnancy?
Maternal levels rise progressively throughout pregnancy.
Function of hPL
Antagonistic effect to insulin –> diabetogenicity of pregnancy.
Causes lipolysis and leads to use of FFAs for energy by mom.
Increases Glc by inhibiting maternal Glc uptake.
Progesterone is needed to maintain what?
Inactivity of myometrium and a pregnant uterus
Regulation of progesterone and its concentrations during pregnancy
Mostly unregulated and increases throughout pregnancy
Major estrogen of pregnancy
Estriol
Estriol levels can be used to assess:
Fetal well-being
Functions of estrogen in pregnancy
- increase uteroplacental BF.
- enhance LDL receptor expression in syncytiotrophoblasts.
- increase PGs and oxytocin Rs –> parturition.
- increase growth and development of mammary glands.
What 2 things (in the menstrual cycle) does progesterone inhibit?
Inhibits myometrial contractions and inhibits menstruation.
What is the “window of receptivity”? What induces it? When is it?
Induced by progesterone.
It is the increased adhesivity of endometrium.
Day 20-24 of menstrual cycle.
How are elevated levels of progesterone and estrogens achieved in pregnancy?
hCG rescuing CL (1st trimester).
Placenta (by 8 wks it becomes major source of P and E).
Why is the placenta an “imperfect” endocrine organ?
Poor at making enough cholesterol.
No 17a and desmolase.
No 16a (needed for estriol synthesis).
How does the maternal-placenta-fetal unit overcome its imperfection? (2 ways)
- Mom supplies most cholesterol as LDL.
2. Fetal adrenals and liver supply the lacking enzymes of the placenta (17a, desmolase, 16a).
Why can’t the fetus make estrogens on its own?
No 3B-HSD or aromatase.
Why should the fetus NOT make estrogens on its own?
Because the mother needs the estrogens mainly, not the fetus.
The placenta is a sink for “weak androgens”. Why is that helpful?
It prevents the masculinization of a female
How does the fetus “weaken” steroid hormones?
Conjugates them to sulfate and lowers their activity.
Maternal BV during pregnancy
Begins to increase during 1st trimester, rises steeply 2nd trimester, rises slower 3rd trimester and plateaus last few wks of pregnancy.
Increases 40-50%.