Endocrinology and Gynecology

Foetal-Placental Neuroendocrine Development

Foetal Placental Neuroendocrine development involves mother, foetus, and placenta, and stress is a key element activating a series of physiological adaptive responses. Oxytocin (OT) is the neurohormone whose major target is uterine contractility and placenta represents a novel source that contributes to the mechanisms of parturition. Among the others, neurohormones, relaxin, parathyroid hormone-related protein, opioids, neurosteroids, and monoamines are expressed and secreted from placental tissues at parturition.