Steroid hormones act through two mechanisms. The first is the classical genomic level, which acts at a relatively slow pace from hours to days. The second non-genomic mechanism of steroid activity can influence cellular function during seconds or even milliseconds. During pregnancy both mechanisms take place. Steroid hormones that act non-genomically and influence neuronal excitability are called neuroactive steroids. The aim of this study was to measure the levels of steroid hormones and examine their relationship to the physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy. The physiological importance of increased placental progesterone production, lowered production of 5B-pregnanone steroids and increased activity of steroid sulfotransferase with gestational age have been intensely discussed. On the basis of our results, we have proposed an alternative mechanism of maternal progesterone synthesis during pregnancy (progesterone, or the gestagen stabilizing activity of the myometrium = continuation of pregnancy). In contrast to previous results our observations indicate that gestagens arise from precursors in the fetus (from pregnenolone sulfate). This mechanism is closely connected with the distribution of placental oxido-reductase. Data from this study show an increasing trend in the conversion of...
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:322243 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Pašková, Andrea |
| Contributors | Pařízek, Antonín, Procházka, Martin, Tošner, Jindřich |
| Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
| Language | Czech |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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