Maternal smoking and developmental changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) and the LH receptor in the fetal testis.

ABSTRACT:

Context

The LH receptor (LHCGR) drives fetal testosterone secretion, which is vital for human masculinization. Maternal smoking is associated with defective masculinization, but the relationship between smoking, tropic hormones, testosterone, and functional LHCGR expression is poorly understood.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate developmental changes in fetal gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and expression of fetal testicular LHCGR isoforms and the effects of maternal cigarette smoking.

Design

We conducted an observational study of the male fetus, comparing pregnancies in which the mothers did or did not smoke.

Setting

The study was conducted at the Universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Patients/participants

Testes and blood wer

SUBMITTER: Fowler PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2848822 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature