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Maternal fetal stress transfer is a physiological phenomenon in which psychosocial stress experienced by a mother during her pregnancy can be transferred to the fetus. Psychosocial stress describes the brain's physiological response to perceived social threat. Because of a link in blood supply between a mother and fetus, it has been found that ...
Schematic of the HPA axis (CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone) Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis or HTPA axis) is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among three components: the hypothalamus (a part of the brain located below the thalamus), the pituitary gland (a ...
Studies explore the way that prenatal stress impacts the fetus's development. One of the ways the body responds to stress is via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. [3] Expectant mothers that experience high levels of stressors trigger a response from the HPA axis. This then triggers the release of glucocorticoids.
One theory is that high progesterone levels act as an antagonist to the cortisol. The adrenal gland also produces more aldosterone , leading to an eight-fold increase in aldosterone. [ 5 ] Women do not show signs of hyperaldosterone, such as hypokalemia, hypernatremia, or high blood pressure.
The fetal adrenal cortex can be identified within four weeks of pregnancy. [2] The adrenal cortex originates from the thickening of the intermediate mesoderm. [3] At five to six weeks of gestation, the mesonephros differentiates into a tissue known as the gonadal ridge.
The theory holds that the fraternal birth order effect is a result of a maternal immune response that is produced towards a factor of male development over several male pregnancies. [9] Bogaert's hypothesis argues that "the target of the immune response may be male specific molecules on the surface of male fetal brain cells (e.g., including ...
Levels rise towards the end of pregnancy just before birth and current theory suggests three roles of CRH in parturition: [27] Increases levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) directly by action on the fetal adrenal gland, and indirectly via the mother's pituitary gland. DHEA has a role in preparing for and stimulating cervical contractions.
Fetal programming, also known as prenatal programming, is the theory that environmental cues experienced during fetal development play a seminal role in determining health trajectories across the lifespan. Three main forms of programming that occur due to changes in the maternal environment are: