Question

List any four hormones secreted by placenta.

Answer 1

Hint: The placenta is an endocrine gland formed in the uterus of a pregnant woman. It provides oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as nutrients between the mother and the fetus. Human chorionic gonadotropin( HCG), Progesterone, Estrogen and human placental lactogen are the hormones secreted by placenta. All the hormones play a very important role in the development of the fetus.

Complete answer:
Placenta is an endocrine gland that forms only during pregnancy. Placenta connects with the developing fetus to the wall of the mother’s uterus during pregnancy. The walls of the uterus are attached to the fetus within the uterine cavity. Placenta is formed by cells originating from the fetus. Blood vessels present in the placenta bring oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and remove waste products. Antibodies also transfer from mother to the fetus, providing protection from certain diseases.

Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG): The mother’s blood contains high levels of HCG and urine raises a lot during the first trimester. They also play an important role in showing symptoms of pregnancy like nausea and vomiting often linked to pregnancy.

Human placental lactogen (Hpl): it is also known as human chorionic somato-mammotropin. It provides nutrition to the placenta. It helps to stimulate milk glands in the breasts for breastfeeding.

Estrogen: it is a sex steroid hormone. It helps in the development of sexual traits. It is formed in ovaries. It helps to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Progesterone: Ovaries and placenta forms progesterone during pregnancy. It plays a very important role in the development of uterine lining and makes it more suitable for implantation of the fertilized egg.

Note: Hormones found in placenta include the members of Prolactin and growth hormone family, steroid hormones and neuroactive hormones. These hormones help in maintaining the physiological adaptation in the mother so that there are no complications in the pregnancy. Any complications in the maternal physiology may lead to complications of pregnancy such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, fetal overgrowth and preterm birth.