The article by Kalantaridou et al. uses the term “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis” (Kalantaridou. Makrigiannakis, Zoumakis, and Chrousos 61) to refer to the female regulatory system. The axis in question is affected by the hormone known as the corticotropin-releasing hormone, or CRH (Asani and Teoharides 85) hormone (Kalantaridou et al. 61). The HPA is traditionally defined as the loop that displays the interaction between the hypothalamus of a patient, their anterior pituitary, and the adrenal cortex (Saxton et al. 39). The CHR, in its turn, is typically identified as the natural reaction of the human body towards the factors that cause stress (Asani and Teoharides 87). The two hormones listed above are essential to the outcomes of a pregnancy, as women in the specified condition are not prone to stress; quite on the contrary, pregnant women are extremely prone to responding to the slightest negative factor in a disproportionate manner. As a result, both the mother and the infant appear under a consistent threat, as stress may trigger preterm delivery and, therefore, take the lives of both the infant and the mother (Reynolds and Seckl 3458).
According to the information presented in the article, the specified axis enhances the process of ovarian estrogen and progesterone production. In other words, the effects of the axis are rather direct. Described in the article thoroughly, CRH affects the reproductive functions positively along with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (Kalantaridou et al. 63). In addition, the specified hormone also affects the organs such as “endometrial glands, the decidualized endometrial stroma and the placental trophoblast, synctiotrophoblast and decidua” (Kalantaridou et al. 61). Additionally, a significant effect on the functioning of the organs such as “ovary, uterus as well as fetal and placental membranes” (Zoumakis, Kalantaridou, and Makrigiannakis 4230) can belisted among the basic functions of the gland in question. The hormone in question affects the specified organs by enhancing their functions and, therefore, galvanizing the reproduction process.
Ovaries respond to the CHR being released into the female body (Laryea, Arnett, Wieczorekd, and Mugliab 161). However, as it has been stressed above, ovaries are not the only parts of the female body, which are affected by the hormone; along with the above-mentioned organ, uterus and membranes need to be listed. Since the hormone mentioned above facilitates a successful process of reproduction in humans, it is reasonable to assume that the dysregulation of CRH and glucocorticoids is likely to trigger significant changes in a female body, making it unable to reproduce. Indeed, taking a look at several studies on the underproduction of the specified matter in women causes them to be unable to get pregnant. It should also be born in mind that the specified hormone can help regulate reproduction by inhibiting the feeling of fear, as well as any other negative emotion and contributing to only positive emotional experiences in women (Laryea et al. 162). The specified phenomenon is quite easy to explain from the perspective of emotional experiences of women during their pregnancy. There is no secret that stressful experiences are extremely harmful to pregnant women, particularly, the experiences in question affect infants on a very deep level, causing them to be under a consistent stress (Sanders 2). The hormone, in its turn, reduces stress rates in mothers, therefore, leading to the development of a more favorable environment for infants.
References
Asani, Shahrzad and Theoharis C. Teoharides. “Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Extracellular Mitochondria Augment IgE-stimulated Human Mast-Cell Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Release, Which Is Inhibited by Luteolin.” Journal of Neuroinflammation 9.1 (2012): 85–90. Print.
Kalantaridou, Natan S., Alex Makrigiannakis, Erin Zoumakis, and George P. I. Chrousos. “Stress and the Female Reproductive System.” Journal of Reproductive Immunology 62.1 (2004): 61–68. Print.
Laryea, Gloria, Melinda G. Arnett, Lindsay Wieczorekd, and Louis J. Mugliab. “Site-Specific Modulation of Brain Glucocorticoid Receptor and Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Expression Using Lentiviral Vectors.” Molecular Cell Endocrinology 371.0 (2013): 160–165. Print.
Reynolds, Ronald M. and John R. Seckl. “Antenatal Glucocorticoid Treatment.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 97.10 (2012): 3457–3459. Print.
Sanders, Robert. Stress Puts Double Whammy on Reproductive System. 2009. Web.
Saxton, John M., Emma J Scott, Amanda J Daley, M Nicola Woodroofe, Nanette Mutrie, Helen Crank, … and Robert E Coleman.” Effects of an Exercise and Hypocaloric Healthy Eating Intervention on Indices of Psychological Health Status, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Regulation and Immune Function after Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomised Controlled Trial.” Breast Cancer Research, 16.1 (2014): 39–48. Print.
Zoumakis, Eugene, Sarah N. Kalantaridou and Alexander Makrigiannakis. “CRH-Like Peptides in Human Reproduction.” Current Medical Chemistry 16.32 (2009): 4230–4235. Print.