Adrenal cortex of fetus mainly releases which hormone during early part of pregnancy?
a. Cortisol(Ref: Nelson's 20/e p 2700)Shortly after the fetal adrenal gland forms (wk 8-10), it efficiently secretes cortisol, which is able to negatively feedback on fetal pituitary and hypothalamus to suppress ACTH secretion.After wk 12, 3b hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity in the fetal adrenal gland decreases and steroid sulfokinase activity increases. Thus, the major steroid products of the midgestation fetal adrenal gland are DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS).Cortisol activity is low during the 2nd trimester, which might serve to prevent premature secretion of surfactant by the developing fetal lungs; surfactant levels can affect the timing of parturition.
Cortisol
Corticosterone
Progesterone
DHEAS
Endocrinology