Endocrine Abstracts

The successful establishment of pregnancy is dependent on appropriate embryo development and uterine receptivity. The latter consists of secretory transformation of the glandular epithelial cells followed by decidualisation of the stromal compartment during the mid to late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. This phase of the cycle is also characterised by extensive tissue remodelling in the superficial layer of the endometrium in preparation for the invasion and implantat...

Human placenta expresses a large variety of regulatory factors which are involved in the control of local hormone production, throughout paracrine and/or autocrine mechanisms. Their action may occur in the same tissue where they originate, as well as in the contiguous tissues (fetal membranes, uterus).By using primary cultures, cell lines, or tissue explants (incubated or perifused) it has been shown that neuropeptides, growth factors, cytokines modulate...

Trophoblasts are the cell type specific to the placenta. The terminally-differentiated multinucleate form, syncytiotrophoblast, covers the surface of placental chorionic villi, forming a large microvillous epithelium in contact with the maternal circulation. This syncytiotrophoblast layer is both the endocrine tissue of the placenta and the site of other placental functions (e.g. gas exchange, transport activities) upon which fetal viability depends. Syncytiotrophoblast cannot...

Epidemiological evidence suggests that an adverse fetal environment permanently programmes physiology leading to increased risks of cardiovascular, metabolic, neuroendocrine and psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Prenatal glucocorticoid excess might link fetal maturation and adult pathophysiology. In a variety of animal models, prenatal stress or exposure to synthetic glucocorticoid which cross the placenta reduces birth weight and causes permanent hypertension, hyperglycaemi...