Abstract
RELATIVELY little is known regarding the role of the adrenal cortex in human pregnancy. Conflicting reports appear in the literature on steroid excretion-rates in women during normal pregnancy. Some workers1 have found no change in 17-ketogenic steroid excretion in the last trimester of pregnancy, while others2, using the same chemical method for their estimation, report a slight increase in levels. In contrast, Venning3, employing a bioassay technique as a measure of adrenal activity, found an initial rise in excretion of glycogenic corticoids in the first trimester of human pregnancy. This later returned to normal values with a falling-off in excretion-rate usually occurring in the last month. Shortly after parturition the values were back to normal levels again.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Norymberski, J. K., and Stubbs, R. D., Lancet, i, 1276 (1953).
Schüller, E., Acta Endocr., 35, 345 (1957).
Venning, E. H., Endocrinol., 39, 203 (1946).
Bush, I. E., Ciba Foundation Colloquia on Endocrinology, 7, 210 (J. and A. Churchill, Ltd., London, 1953).
Macfarlane, W. V., and Robinson, K. W., J. App. Physiol., 11, 199 (1957).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ROBINSON, K. Adrenal Cortical Function in the Pregnant Sheep. Nature 183, 690–691 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/183690a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/183690a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
