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From: werner@aecom.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: hormones in pregnancy
Message-ID: <1111@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Jan-85 16:17:12 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.1111
Posted: Fri Jan 25 16:17:12 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jan-85 07:33:52 EST
References: <9900004@hpfclp.UUCP>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 47

> As an actively apprenticing midwife I often come across information
> on what effects hormones during pregnancy have on a woman's body.
> My basic knowledge of biochemistry is limited and I would be most
> interested on information on hormones and their relationship with the
> body during pregnancy and at other times. 
> 
> Willy  Fenske

	Intro to Hormones:
	A hormone is defined as any substance created by one organ of the
body that enters the bloodstream and acts on another part of the body, which
either then secretes another hormone that acts on the end organ, or is the
end organ.
	Virtually every part of the body is controlled is some way by 
hormones, and to teach the subject requires the equivalent of several weeks
in Medical school (stretched over several courses, including of course,
endocrinology, the field associated with it.) Here are a few:
	
	Pituitary Hormones: 
		Somatroponin		"Growth Hormone"
		Lactotropic H		Prolactin - stimulates milk prod.
		Gonadotropins		Follicle Stimulating Hormone
					Luteinizing Hormone
		Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
		ACTH - Adrenal Cortex H
	Thyroid  	Thyroglobulin - increases metabolism
			Calcitonin -	inhibits bone resorbtion
	Parathyroid	PTH		increases bone resorbtion
			
	Adrenals	Mineralcorticoids (Aldosterone) - salt balance
			Glucocorticoids (Cortisol) - carbohydrate metabolism
				- also produce "stress"
			Catecholamines (Epinephrine and Norepinephrine)
				- these are the fight or flight hormones
			Sex Hormones (M=Androgens, Testosterone)
				     (F=Estrogens, Estradiol)
	Pancreas	Insulin - lowers blood sugar
			Glucagon - raises blood sugar
			Somatostatin - inhibits Growth hormone (above)

	In short, everything in the body that has to be regulated, has a
hormone, and usually several, mutually antagonistic ones, regulating it.

-- 
				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
		What do you expect?  Watermelons are out of season!