CHAPTER 3 – Hormone Production and Concentrations During Pregnancy in Humans and in Other Mammalian Species

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses hormone production and concentrations in peripheral plasma other biological fluids different tissues. The mechanisms that control hormonal requirements during early pregnancy vary greatly: many species the formation maintenance of corpus luteum is dependent upon presence pituitary hormones but a few mammals, such as rats, guinea pigs, corpora lutea may form hypophysectomized animals. nature stimulates function differs from to species—in primates, cattle, sheep, major luteotropin appears be luteinizing hormone; rats mice, prolactin luteotropic whereas steroidogenic. Great diversity also exists patterns estrogens produced case chimpanzee gorilla, which secrete mainly estradiol; similarly humans, estriol main metabolite present here. measurements concentration tissue provide only limited insight into dynamics action. In most species, probably exceed several times levels needed for binding receptor proteins, necessary step initiation physiological response.