Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin is the name of the hormone, which gets produced in the placenta. The placenta plays an important role. It helps in the nutrition of the embryo. It also helps to provide oxygen to the embryo and acts like a protective shield for it. The secretion of this hormone is yet another function of the placenta. For it is one of the important preganacy hormones. The secretion of this hormone is regularized by yet another hormone known as estrogen. HSC is the short form for this hormone. Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin. HPL or Human Placental Lactogen is another name for this hormone. It is to be noted here that it is the HSC or HPL Production which helps in the development and evolution of the foetus.
It is due to the production of HSC or HPL Production that the breasts develop glands that have a role to play as far as breast feeding is concerned. The HSC or HPL Production also helps in the considerable reduction of glucose intakes in case of the mother. It is important to remember that HPL is of the anti- insulin type. Which means it is of the insulin resistance type. The production of HSC or HPL increases steadily from the third week of the on start of the gestation period and continues till the last month of pregnancy.
HSC or HPL is a polypeptide placental hormone. By polypeptide we mean short polymers. The structure and function of the HPL hormone or the Human placental lactogen is in fact, quite similar to that of the human growth hormone. This is a very important characteristic of this hormone. HPL helps in modification of the metabolic state of the mother during her pregnancy. Thus it plays a vital role in keeping the metabolic rate in tune with the maternal pregnancy. The result is that increased levels of energy gets directed to the foetus.
This hormone is similar to the hormone prolactin as well. The major significance of the hormone is that during pregnancy it becomes an all important source of energy for the placenta as well as for the foetus too. The production of Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin, provides a barrier of sorts and is also considered to be an insulin resistance to the mother. HPL retards the enzymes in the maternal skeletal muscles to metabolize glucose. Now glucose becomes readily available to meet the needs of the placenta as well as the foetus.
The needs of the foetus rises steadily in the second trimester.
|
|
At the same time there is a similar need felt by the maternal organism as well. It is at this stage that the role of this hormone becomes maximum.
It is here that the significance of the production of HPL during pregnancy is realized. This is as because the maternal serum levels are also rising at this time. The needs of the foetus as well as the placenta are also rising. The maximum production of HPL takes place when the term of pregnancy is nearing its end. It is at this time that the production levels could rise to as much as 5–7 mg/ml. For it is at this point that its role becomes most important. For the foetus and the embryo require energy too. It is interesting to note that higher levels of the hormone- HPL is secreted, when a women is carrying twins or triplets or quadruplets in her womb.
Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin,is one of the crucial pregnancy hormones.
For more information on pregnancy related matters, stay connected to the site Pregnancyxl.com.
|
