Maternal recognition of pregnancy
Biological process in mammals
Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a crucial physiological process in mammals that ensures the maintenance of the corpus luteum and the continued production of progesterone, a hormone essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. This process involves complex interactions between the developing embryo and the maternal endocrine system.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
In most mammals, the corpus luteum is responsible for the production of progesterone, which is necessary to maintain the uterine lining and support early pregnancy. Without the signal from the embryo, the corpus luteum will regress, leading to a drop in progesterone levels and the onset of menstruation or estrous cycle in non-pregnant females.
In Humans[edit | edit source]
In humans, the embryo secretes a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) shortly after implantation. hCG is similar in structure to luteinizing hormone (LH) and acts on the corpus luteum to maintain its function and progesterone production. This hormone is also the basis for most pregnancy tests.
In Other Mammals[edit | edit source]
In other mammals, such as ruminants (e.g., cows and sheep), the embryo produces a protein called interferon tau (IFN-τ). This protein acts on the maternal endometrium to prevent the secretion of prostaglandin F2 alpha, which would otherwise cause luteolysis, the breakdown of the corpus luteum.
In pigs, the conceptus secretes estrogens that alter the secretion of prostaglandins, redirecting them away from the corpus luteum and thus preventing luteolysis.
Importance[edit | edit source]
Maternal recognition of pregnancy is vital for the continuation of pregnancy. Failure in this process can lead to early embryonic loss, which is a significant cause of infertility in both humans and animals. Understanding the mechanisms involved in maternal recognition of pregnancy can help in developing treatments for infertility and improving reproductive efficiency in livestock.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
