Fetal exposure to maternal cortisol

Abstract

The relation between maternal and fetal cortisol has been disputed. Schwartz 1 Schwartz LB Understanding human parturition. Lancet. 1997; 350: 1792-1793 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar suggests that maternal cortisol contributes much to fetal cortisol concentration until the key events of parturition. By contrast, Benediktsson and Seckl 2 Benediktsson R Seckl JR Understanding human parturition. Lancet. 1998; 351: 913-914 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar state that high placental 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase activity excludes maternal cortisol from the fetus in early and mid gestation, and that cortisol does not cross the human placenta readily at any stage. The studies cited do not, however, compare paired maternal and fetal concentrations. Previous studies of paired maternal-cortisol and fetal-cortisol samples have shown no significant correlation, but had narrow ranges of concentrations.