Serum cortisol level changes in the maternal-fetoplacental unit between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy
Hercz, P.; Siklós, P.; Ungár, L.
Acta Physiologica Hungarica 69(2): 161-165
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0231-424X PMID: 3618248 Document Number: 299023
Changes in the serum cortisol level of maternal venous, umbilical venous and umbilical arterial blood were studied separately between the 28th-36th weeks in cases of preterm deliveries (n = 74) and in the 40th week in cases of term delivery (n = 34). Results indicate that between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy the cortisol concentration increased only in the serum of the umbilical artery; the "umbilical arterial/umbilical venous concentration X100" quotient rose from a value of 86% measured at 28th-32nd weeks to 103% in the 40th week of pregnancy. Positive correlation was found between the cortisol concentration of the three samples. On the basis of these results the authors believe that fetal adreno-cortical activity increases before birth.