Tabla de Contenidos:
  • The Fetus and Birth; Contents; Introduction: a historical perspective; Parturition in the sheep; Discussion; Dilatation of the uterine cervix; Discussion; The fetal role in timing the initlation of parturition in the goat; Discussion; The role and regulation of corticotropin in the fetal sheep; Discussion; General discussion Ultrastructure of the sheep placenta; Endocrine relationships during late gestation and parturition in the cow; Discussion; Progesterone and oestrogen in pregnancy and parturition : comparative aspects and hierarchical control; Discussion.
  • The 'see-saw' theory of parturitionDiscussion; Fetal and maternal endo- crine changes during pregnancy and parturition in the rhesus monkey; Discussion; Endocrine regulation of fetal development and its relation to parturition in the rhesus monkey; Discussion; Endocrine and pharmacological factors which influence the onset of labour in rhesus monkeys; Discussion; The role of prostaglandins in parturition, with special reference to the rat; Discussion; Control of uterine contractility via cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; Discussion; Human decidua and uterine contractility; Discussion.
  • The fetal hypothalamus and pituitary in the initiation of labourDiscussion; The influence of the fetal hypo- thalamus and pituitary on the onset and course of parturition; Discussion; Fetal cortisol and the initiation of labour in the human; Discussion; Human parturition; Discussion; Final discussion; Index of contributors; Subject index.