Neuroendocrinology of Pregnancy: Participation of Sex Hormones

Pregnancy is characterized by hormonal changes, critical for the mother’s physiological adaptation, exercising a role in the fetus’s development, maintenance, protection, and nutrition. Since born, the neuroendocrine system’s involvement is necessary to prevent the embryo from being rejected by the mother’s immune system. These changes are regulated by fluctuations in hormones such as Progesterone, Testosterone, Androstenedione, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Estradiol, Prolactin, human Placental Lactogen, human Chorionic Gonadotropin, and Thyroid hormones, which promote the mother’s development and the fetus (maternal-fetal development). Therefore, given the great importance of these hormones during pregnancy, this chapter will explain the preclinical and clinical participation of sex hormones in maternal-fetal development.