Maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone levels in the early third trimester predict length of gestation in human pregnancy

Abstract

These findings support the premise that placental corticotropin-releasing hormone is potentially implicated in the timing of human delivery in at least two ways. First, placental corticotropin-releasing hormone may play a role in the physiology of parturition. Premature or accelerated activation of the placental corticotropin-releasing hormone system, as reflected by precocious elevation of maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone levels, may therefore be associated with earlier onset of spontaneous labor and resultant delivery. Second, placental corticotropin-releasing hormone may be a marker of antepartum risk for preterm delivery and therefore an indirect predictor of earlier delivery. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the neuroendocrinology of placental corticotropin-releasing hormone and human parturition. Furthermore, the role of corticotropin-releasing hormone as a possible effector of prenatal stress in producing alterations in the timing of normal delivery is detailed.

Endocrine immune interactions in human parturition

“…CRH binding protein (CRH-BP) produced by the liver and placenta, limits the bioavailability of CRH but its levels fall during the last six weeks of pregnancy leaving increased levels of free CRH (Linton et al, 1993). Women in preterm labour have significantly elevated levels of CRH compared to non-labouring women of the same gestation, a finding that can also be seen several weeks in advance of clinical signs of preterm labour (McLean et al, 1995, Wadhwa et al, 1998. Taken together, these observations form the hypothesis that CRH may function as a placental clock in humans, determining the length of gestation and onset of labour (McLean et al, 1995).…”

Cortisol and anxiety response to a relaxing intervention on pregnant women awaiting amniocentesis

“…cognitive effects in the child. Women with high antenatal anxiety or stress are more likely to have premature and low birth weight babies (Copper et al, 1996;Wadhwa et al, 1993Wadhwa et al, , 1998Field et al, 2003). Prenatal maternal stress is also suspect of affecting infant development and promoting a range of adverse temperamental effects (O'Connor et al, 2002(O'Connor et al, , 2003Field et al, 2003;Huizink et al, 2004;Laplante et al, 2004;Van den Bergh et al, 2005;Talge et al, 2007;Glover et al, 2010).…”

Fetal response to induced maternal emotions

“…Chronic stress exposure for pregnant women affects fetal development, resulting in preterm birth and low birth weight [1][2][3][4]. In addition to stress, persistent negative maternal emotions during pregnancy such as anxiety, depression and anger also exert an influence on fetal and later development of a child [5][6][7][8][9].…”