OBJECTIVE Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and urocortin are two placental neuropeptides that are involved in the mechanisms of labour by modulating myometrial activity. Maternal plasma levels of both CRF and urocortin are increased at term and preterm labour, whilst those of CRF are reduced in women who are destined to experience post-term delivery. The present study evaluated maternal pl...

Normal foetal growth and survival depends on proper development and function of the placenta. It serves to maintain a maternal-foetal interference for the exchange of blood gases, nutrients, and waste. The placenta has been described as a "diary of intrauterine life" and it may elucidate many aspects of intra uterine life. The aim of this study is to observe the histological and radiological ch...

The placental glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is central to glucocorticoid signalling and for mediating steroid effects on pathways associated with fetal growth and lung maturation but the GR has not been examined in the guinea pig placenta even though this animal is regularly used as a model of preterm birth and excess glucocorticoid exposure. Guinea pig dams received subcutaneous injections of e...

The present note is really a corollary to my preceding communication, and is thrown out more as a hint and suggestion that may prove fertile afterwards. First, a statement as to our knowledge of the mechanism of this important part of labour. "What we know of it is chiefly negative. We only know that diminution of the placental site does not separate the placenta, a demonstration we owe to Dr B...

This review covers ultrasound evaluation of the normal and abnormal placenta with clinical correlation. Normal placental function is essential for a healthy pregnancy outcome as well as for maternal, fetal, childhood, and adult health. Abnormal placental function may result in a compromised pregnancy, creating pathology for the fetus and mother alike. Despite the fact that placental anatomy, fu...

Preterm labour and resultant preterm birth are the most important problems in perinatology. Countless efforts have failed to establish a single effective treatment of preterm labour, partly because the mechanisms regulating the uterus and cervix during pregnancy are not well understood. New knowledge is needed to inhibit early progression of labour (uterine contractility and cervical ripening),...

Intrauterine tissues (placenta, amnion, chorion, decidua) express hormones and cytokines that play a decisive role in maternal-fetal physiological interactions. The excessive or deficient release of some placental hormones in association with gestational diseases may reflect an abnormal differentiation of the placenta, an impaired fetal metabolism, or an adaptive response of the feto-placental ...

placenta plays a vital role in normal fetal development and failure of placenta to gain weight and insufficiency of its function can result in fetal disorders. we performed this study to determine placental weight and factors associated with low weight placentas. in a longitudinal cross-sectional study, women with single pregnancy, and gestational age between 37-42 weeks were studied. the subje...

BACKGROUND Placental malfunction in preeclampsia is believed to be a consequence of aberrant differentiation of trophoblast lineages and changes in utero-placental oxygenation. The transcription factor Snail, a master regulator molecule of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in embryonic development and in cancer, is shown to be involved in trophoblast differentiation as well. Moreover, Snail can...

Background: Studies have established placental weight ratio (PWR) as a relevant marker of fetal uteroplacental function which reflects whether the fetal and placental growth is proportionate. It decreases across gestation as the placental growth slows and fetal growth accelerates. Preeclampsia and preterm birth are both risk factors of small for gestational age (SGA) off springs with the smalle...