Endocrine induced changes in brain function during pregnancy

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1364; pp. 198 - 215
• Main Authors: Brunton, Paula J, Russell, John A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.12.2010
• Subjects: Adaptations; Allopregnanolone; Animals; Appetite; Appetite - physiology; Brain; Brain - physiology; Electrolyte balance; Endocrine System - physiology; Estradiol; Estrogens; Female; Food intake; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - physiology; Homeostasis; HPA axis; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Maternal behavior; Metabolites; Neurology; Neurons; Neuropeptides; Neurosteroids; opioid peptides; Opioids; Oxytocin; Oxytocin - physiology; Parturition; Peptide hormones; Peptide Hormones - metabolism; Peptide Hormones - physiology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Postpartum; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - physiology; Pregnancy, Animal - physiology; Pregnanolone; Progesterone; Relaxin; Secretion; Sex; Steroid hormones; Stress; Water-Electrolyte Balance - physiology; PR; estrogen receptor-beta; neuropeptide Y; ACTH; G protein-coupled receptor 54; pENK-A; OVLT; HPA axis; 3α-HSD; N-methyl- d-aspartic acid; adrenocorticotropic hormone; placental lactogen; messenger ribonucleic acid; 5α-reductase; AgRP; atrial natriuretic peptide; hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal; Kisspeptin1-derived peptide receptor; AII; ERβ; MnPO; Oxytocin; cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript; ERα; nucleus tractus solitarii; pro-opiomelanocortin; mPOA; GPR30; estrogen related receptor alpha; gamma-aminobutyric acid; medial preoptic area; ERRα; pPVN; Relaxin; 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; dihydroprogesterone; angiotensin II; 5αR; CRH; GABA; HPA; pSTAT3; phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; supraoptic nucleus; MAP; gonadotropin releasing hormone; CART; agouti related peptide; mitogen activated protein; ANP; estrogen receptor alpha; subfornical organ; cholecystokinin; α-melanocyte stimulating hormone; mRNA; NTS; DHP; progesterone receptor; Estradiol; corticotropin releasing hormone; G protein-coupled receptor 30; deoxyribonucleic acid; NPY; leptin receptor (long form); KISS1R; NMDA; α-MSH; GnRH; SFO; parvocellular paraventricular nucleus; AVPV; GPR54; kisspeptin; ventromedial hypothalamus; CCK; Ob-Rb; Allopregnanolone; POMC; VMH; median preoptic nucleus; organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; SON; DNA; proenkephalin-A; Progesterone; PL; KiSS; anteroventral periventricular nucleus
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.09.062

Abstract The female sex steroid hormones, estrogens and progesterone, are produced in large amounts in pregnancy, increasing as pregnancy progresses. These hormones have essential peripheral actions to maintain pregnancy, and to secure safe delivery at term. They also have important actions on the brain in pregnancy, generally through interactions with neuropeptide systems in the brain, or through modulating the actions of circulating peptide hormones on the brain. Together, these steroid–peptide links form short chains that evoke changes in central physiological systems that favour the pregnancy, including altered control of water and electrolyte balance, appetite and energy partitioning and stress responses. In parallel such links prepare the brain, through inhibition of oxytocin secretion until it is needed to support parturition and for immediate expression of maternal behaviour postpartum. We focus here on recent advances in understanding some of these steroid–peptide links, especially on non-classical progesterone actions through allopregnanolone, its neuroactive steroid metabolite, and opioid peptide mechanisms.