Steroid hormones and pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is associated with physiological adjustments in order to allow adequate growth and fetal development. In particular, steroids are necessary to maintain in balance numerous functions during gestation. Steroidogenesis in the maternal, placental and fetal compartments and the biological effects of progestins and estrogens that play a pivotal role before and during pregnancy are described. Although it is well-known that androgens are considered as substrate for estrogens biosynthesis, their biosynthesis and functionality in placental and other tissues have been questioned. As compared with healthy pregnancy, steroid hormones levels have been found altered in complicated pregnancies and hormonal treatments have been used is some pathologies. Therefore, the aim of this work was to review the biosynthesis, function and regulation of progestins, androgens and estrogens during gestation. Furthermore, steroid hormones concentrations during healthy and complicated pregnancy as well hormonal therapies for the prevention of miscarriages and preterm deliveries are discussed in the present review.

摘要

怀孕与生理调节相关, 为了允许充足的生长和胎儿发育。特别的是, 类固醇是必要的, 以保持妊娠期的众多功能的平衡。本文描述了母体、胎盘和胎儿的间隔室的类固醇的生成, 以及在妊娠前和妊娠期间起关键作用的孕激素和雌激素的生物学效应。虽然雄激素被认为是雌激素合成的底物, 但其在胎盘和其他组织中的生物合成和功能一直受到质疑。与健康的妊娠相比, 激素水平在复杂的妊娠中有改变, 激素治疗被用于一些病理妊娠。因此, 本研究的目的是关于孕激素、雄激素和雌激素在妊娠期生物合成、功能和调控的综述。此外, 在健康和复杂的妊娠期间类固醇激素的浓度, 以及激素治疗预防流产和早产在本篇综述中进行了讨论。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Pregnancy
• steroidogenic enzymes
• endocrine disorder
• hormonal therapies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

NNM is a PhD student from the Posgrado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, and recipient of a fellowship from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT, México), No. 241393. This work was supported by CONACyT, México [Grant No. 282770].