Hormonal Regulation of Fetal Growth and Development
Summary
Fetal growth and development are orchestrated by a finely tuned endocrine network involving maternal, placental and fetal hormones. Placental growth hormone (PGH) supplants pituitary growth hormone during gestation to modulate maternal insulin sensitivity and nutrient delivery. Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2), acting through specific receptors and modulated by binding proteins, drive cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival within the placenta and developing fetus. Steroid hormones such as progesterone and oestrogens promote placental vascularisation and ensure uteroplacental blood flow. Local regulators including microRNAs and transcription factors further refine trophoblast behaviour, balancing invasiveness with barrier integrity. Dysregulation of any component can contribute to disorders of foetal growth, including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), macrosomia and hypertensive complications such as preeclampsia. Understanding these interdependent pathways is essential for devising targeted interventions that improve perinatal outcomes and long-term health trajectories.
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Hormonal Regulation of Fetal Growth and Development publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hormonal regulation of fetal growth and development across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Placental growth hormone (PGH): A variant of growth hormone produced by the placenta that regulates maternal metabolism and nutrient transfer to the fetus.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1): A peptide hormone that mediates many growth hormone effects, promoting cell proliferation and survival in foetal and placental tissues.
MicroRNA (miRNA): Small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to messenger RNAs.
Trophoblast: The specialised cell lineage forming the outer layer of the blastocyst, responsible for implantation, placental development and maternal–foetal exchange.
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR): A condition in which a fetus fails to achieve its genetically predetermined growth potential, often linked to placental insufficiency.
Preeclampsia: A pregnancy disorder characterised by hypertension and organ dysfunction, associated with impaired trophoblast invasion and abnormal placental vasculature.
References
- Racial differences in the associations between adiposity, placental growth hormone and inflammatory cytokines in pregnant women. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
- Insulin‐like growth factor 1 ameliorates pre‐eclampsia by inhibiting zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 by up‐regulation of microRNA‐183. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2023).
- Inhibitor of DNA Binding Protein 2 (ID2) Mediates the Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Differentiation Effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). Life (2024).
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