The pivotal role of glucocorticoids in the initiation of parturition has been very well
documented in several domestic mammalian animal species. However the role of …

The fetal membranes are equipped with high capacity of cortisol regeneration through the
reductase activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1). The expression of …

Excess of glucocorticoids (GCs) during pregnancy is strongly associated with the
programming of glucose intolerance in the offspring. However, the impact of high GC levels …

One of the dominant effects of glucocorticoids in triggering parturition in certain animal
species is to drive the placental conversion of progesterone to estrogen. However, in the …

Introduction Increased estrogen production in placenta towards the end of gestation plays a
pivotal role in the onset of human labor. Estrogen transforms myometrium from a quiescent …

The use of antenatal dexamethasone to mature the fetal lung in pregnancies likely to deliver
before 34 weeks is almost universal. It reduces the incidence of respiratory distress …

Dexamethasone administration has marked effects on the growth hormone-insulin-like
growth factor axis (GH–IGF) in animal and human studies. During pregnancy in the rat, it is …

Problem: To investigate the effect of altering local glucocorticoid concentration on human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production by cultured placental trophoblast cells. Method of …

Background: Antenatal corticosteroids are given to most women at risk of preterm delivery,
although many do not eventually deliver preterm. Profound disruptions of lactation have …

Background Respiratory distress (RD) is higher among newborns born by caesarean
section (CS) compared to vaginal delivery. Royal College of Obstetricians and …