Pregnancy and Parturition (Volume 1) (Advances in Organ Biology, Volume 1)

One of the mysteries of mammalian reproduction is the physiologic process that determines the length of gestation. The proper timing of birth ensures that the young individual is sufficiently developed to survive and adapt in the extrauterine environment, and that the mother is capable to provide nutrition and protection to the newborn. This volume summarizes new knowledge obtained by many researchers seeking to unravel the compile mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance and termination of pregnancy. The most important common goal of these efforts is to reduce the incidence of preterm birth, which is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in numerous countries. Separate chapters are devoted to the best-studied animal models of parturition. In sheep, the fetus is in control of the timing of its own birth, while in avian species, oviposition is evidently determined by the female laying the feritlized egg. In humans and non-human primates, the roles of the fetus and the mother are more balanced, and involve a complicated and poorly understood interplay between the mother, the fetus, and the placenta. Some major aspects of these interactions, such as trophoblast function, myometrial contractility, and the endocrine-paracrine systems, are discussed in further chapters. Content: Edited by Page iii Copyright page Page iv List of Contributors Pages vii-ix Preface Pages xi-xii Tamas Zakar Late Pregnancy and Parturition in the Sheep Original Research Article Pages 1-29 Wendy J. McLaren, I. Ross Young, Gregory E. Rice Regulation of Oviposition Original Research Article Pages 31-59 Frank Hertelendy, Kiyoshi Shimada, Miklós Tóth, Miklós Molnár, Kousaku Tanaka Initiation of Parturition in Non-Human Primates Original Research Article Pages 61-87 Jonathan J. Hirst, Geoffrey D. Thorburn The Physiology of Human Parturition Original Research Article Pages 89-119 Jane E. Mijovic, David M. Olson The Trophoblast as an Active Regulator of the Pregnancy Environment in Health and Disease: An Emerging Concept Original Research Article Pages 121-152 Donald W. Morrish, Jamal Dakour, Hongshi Li The Endocrinology of Late Pregnancy and Parturition Original Research Article Pages 153-173 Tamas Zakar, Bryan F. Mitchell Steroid Modulation of Myometrial Structure and Function During Pregnancy Original Research Article Pages 175-193 Charles A. Ducsay, Joon W. Rhee Determinants of Reproductive Mortality and Preterm Childbirth Original Research Article Pages 195-223 John A. McCoshen, P. Audrey Fernandes, Michael L. Boroditsky, James G. Allardice Index Pages 225-230 Advances in Organ Biology: Pregnancy and Parturition 4 Copyright Page 5 CONTENTS 6 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 8 PREFACE 12 CHAPTER 1. LATE PREGNANCY AND PARTURITION IN THE SHEEP 14 CHAPTER 2. REGULATION OF OVlPOSlTlON 44 CHAPTER 3. INITIATION OF PARTURITION IN N0N-HUMAN PRIMATES 74 CHAPTER 4. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN PARTURITION 102 CHAPTER 5. THE TROPHOBLAST AS AN ACTIVE REGULATOR OF THE PREGNANCY ENVIRONMENT IN HEALTH AND DISEASE: AN EMERGING CONCEPT 134 CHAPTER 6. THE ENDOCRINOLOGY OF LATE PREGNANCY AND PARTURITION 166 CHAPTER 7. STEROID MODULATION OF MYOMETRIAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION DURING PREGNANCY 188 CHAPTER 8. DETERMINANTS OF REPRODUCTIVE MORTALITY AND PRETERM CHILDBIRTH 208 INDEX 238 One of the mysteries of mammalian reproduction is the physiologic process that determines the length of gestation. The proper timing ensures that the young individual is developed to survive and adapt in the extrauterine environment. This book provides information on the mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance and termination of pregnancy.