This project took place at our Edinburgh centre which operated between 2008 and 2021.
This research study is now complete
In previous work supported by Tommy's, researchers showed that levels of stress hormones were lower in obese pregnant women compared with pregnant women of normal weight. We are now looking at why this is the case, and if these changes in stress hormones might contribute to pregnancy complications.
This study looks in particular at the “pulsatile release of cortisol” (the PIPa study). Cortisol is a hormone that is normally released in response to stress. During pregnancy, levels of cortisol increase. It is normally at a high level in the morning and a low level in the evening, and is released into the body from the adrenal gland in pulses about once every hour.
Hormones found to be released differently in obese mothers
Scientists measured the cortisol levels in obese, non-obese, pregnant and non-pregnant women. From this, they were able to show that during pregnancy, the level of cortisol, the frequency of pulses, and how much cortisol was released during each pulse all increased. The further into the pregnancy, the more these measures increased.
These results suggest that during non-obese pregnancy, the higher cortisol pulses may be related to pregnancy complications, including both growth restriction and larger than normal babies (these babies are Large for Gestational Age, or LGA). We are continuing work on how and why these pulses change in obese pregnancy. If we can show that these pulses are also linked to pregnancy complications in obese women, then we may be able to improve a baby’s chances by monitoring women at risk and intervening if necessary.
Our researchers have also looked at the way cortisol is processed by the placenta. They found that the placenta acts as a major ‘barrier’ to cortisol. This protects the baby from too much cortisol as well as from the changes in stress hormones that occur around the time of labour.
Further studies are now needed to understand the process of mother-to-baby cortisol transfer.
Dr Laura Stirrat was awarded a prestigious Presidential Prize for her work on cortisol levels.
One of the researchers on this project, Dr Laura Stirrat, was awarded a Presidential Prize at the International Society for Reproductive Investigation 2015 for her work on cortisol levels in obese pregnancy.
Timing
2013-2017
Research papers
- Stirrat LI, O'Reilly JR, Barr SM, Andrew R, Riley SC, Howie AF, Bowman M, Smith R, Lewis JG, Denison FC, Forbes S, Seckl JR, Walker BR, Norman JE, Reynolds RM. Decreased maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in very severely obese pregnancy: Associations with birthweight and gestation at delivery. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Sep 25;63:135-143. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.09.019.
- Mina TH, Denison FC, Forbes S, Stirrat LI, Norman JE, Reynolds RM Associations of mood symptoms with ante- and postnatal weight change in obese pregnancy are not mediated by cortisol. Psychol Med. 2015 Jun 15:1-14.
- Stirrat LI, Reynolds RM. The effect of fetal growth and nutrient stresses on steroid pathways. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2016 Jun;160:214-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.07.003. Epub 2015 Jul 18.
- Stirrat LI, Reynolds RM Effects Of Maternal Obesity On Early And Long Term Outcomes For Offspring. Research and Reports in Neonatology March 2014 Volume 2014:4 Pages 43—53 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RRN.S46783
Get our research updates
Tommy's funds research across the UK investigating the reasons for pregnancy complications and loss. We can keep you updated on our research news. If you're interested in being kept updated about our research and news from Tommy's, click here.
