ABSTRACT

The fetus, like a successful parasite, manipulates the dam for its own gain, but normally avoids imposing exessive stress that would jeopardise this “host,” and thus itself. Several endocrine function tests in the dam are significantly altered during pregnancy. Some changes are due to increased production of plasma-binding proteins by the liver, others to decreased circulating levels of albumin. Additionally, some are mediated by altered clearance rates owing to increased glomerular filtration, decreased heptic excretion of metabolites, or metabolic clearance of steriod and protein hormones by the placenta. Although maternal endocrine adaptations to pregnancy (summarized in Part A and below) undoubtedly occur in all mammalian species, those in primates have been best detailed.