The DOI matches its Crossref record; 154 of the 155 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Adaptive Responses of the Maternal Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis during Pregnancy and Lactation
Open accessAbstract
Over the past 40 years, it has been recognised that the maternal hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis undergoes adaptations through pregnancy and lactation that might contribute to avoidance of adverse effects of stress on the mother and offspring. The extent of the global adaptations in the HPA axis has been revealed and the underlying mechanisms investigated within the last 20 years. Both basal, including the circadian rhythm, and stress‐induced adrenocorticotrophic hormone and glucocorticoid secretory patterns are altered. Throughout most of pregnancy, and in lactation, these changes predominantly reflect reduced drive by the corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) neurones in the parvocellular paraventricular nucleus (pPVN). An accompanying profound attenuation of HPA axis responses to a wide variety of psychological and physical stressors emerges after mid‐pregnancy and persists until the end of lactation. Central to this suppression of stress responsiveness is reduced activation of the pPVN CRF neurones. This is consequent on the reduced effectiveness of the stimulation of brainstem afferents to these CRF neurones (for physical stressors) and of altered processing by limbic structures (for emotional stressors). The mechanism of reduced CRF neurone responses to physical stressors in pregnancy is the suppression of noradrenaline release in the PVN by an up‐regulated endogenous opioid mechanism, which is induced by neuroactive steroid produced from progesterone. By contrast, in lactation suckling the young provides a neural stimulus that dampens the HPA axis circadian rhythm and reduces stress responses. Reduced noradrenergic input activity is involved in reduced stress responses in lactation, although central prolactin action also appears important. Such adaptations limit the adverse effects of excess glucocorticoid exposure on the foetus(es) and facilitate appropriate metabolic and immune responses.
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“Additionally, EO contributes to maternal euphoria and the inhibition of stress-related HPA reactivity to protect the foetus in the late-gestation (65) and lactation phases (65).”
From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [65]
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Brain Oxytocin Correlates with Maternal Aggression: link to Anxiety
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Research works printed but not linked: 6
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- 10.1210/en.140.6.2843 · DOI
- 10.1210/jc.80.10.2954 · DOI
- 10.1210/en.142.5.2032 · DOI
- 10.1210/endo.138.7.5255 · DOI · Paper page
- 10.1210/me.6.1.35 · DOI
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The Consequences of Early‐Life Adversity: Neurobiological, Behavioural and Epigenetic Adaptations
Maccari, S., Krugers, H. J., Morley‐Fletcher, S., Szyf, M., & Brunton, P. J. (2014) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.12175 · Cited by 367
Self-citationSeth, S., Lewis, A. J., & Galbally, M. (2016) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0915-y · Cited by 299
Brunton, P. J., & Russell, J. A. (2010) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01969.x · Cited by 264
Self-citationMaternal Psychological Distress and Lactation and Breastfeeding Outcomes: a Narrative Review
Nagel, E., Howland, M. A., Pando, C., Stang, J. L., Mason, S. M., Fields, D. A., & Demerath, E. W. (2021) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.11.007 · Cited by 278
Metadata
- Authors
- Brunton, P. J., Russell, J. A., & Douglas, A. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Russell, J. A.
- ORCID
- Brunton, P. J.
- Venue
- Journal of Neuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-06
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 764-776
- ISSN
- 0953-8194 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2826
- OpenAlex
- W2125486541
- Cited by
- 298
- References
- 155
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Society for Endocrinology
- European Commission
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Medical Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- pregnancy, lactation, corticotropin-releasing factor, paraventricular nucleus, stress responsiveness, glucocorticoids, ACTH, circadian rhythm, norepinephrine, endogenous opioids, neurosteroids, progesterone, prolactin, suckling
- MeSH terms
- Analgesics, Opioid, Animals, Animals, Suckling, Arginine Vasopressin, Circadian Rhythm, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Female, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Lactation, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Pregnancy, Prolactin, Stress, Psychological
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