Pseudopregnancy

This article is about false pregnancy in non-human mammals. For humans, see False pregnancy. For the hormonal therapy, see High-dose estrogen/pseudopregnancy.

In mammalian species, pseudopregnancy is a physical state whereby all the signs and symptoms of pregnancy are exhibited,[1] with the exception of the presence of a fetus, creating a false pregnancy. The corpus luteum (the remains of an ovulated ovarian follicle) is responsible for the development of maternal behavior and lactation, which are mediated by the continued production of progesterone by the corpus luteum through some or all of pregnancy. In most species, the corpus luteum is degraded in the absence of a pregnancy. However, in some species, the corpus luteum may persist in the absence of pregnancy and cause "pseudopregnancy", in which the female will exhibit clinical signs of pregnancy.[2]

The mechanism is not well understood, but prolactin and its receptors are known to be involved in pseudopregnancy.[3] The role of prolactin in maintaining pseudopregnancy is evident. For instance in the rodent, if chronic prolactin is administered the pseudopregnancy will continue, whereas the condition only lasts a few days if not administered.[4]

  1. ^ Yadav T, Balhara YP, Kataria DK (January 2012). "Pseudocyesis Versus Delusion of Pregnancy: Differential Diagnoses to be Kept in Mind". Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 34 (1): 82–84. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.96167. PMC 3361851. PMID 22661815.
  2. ^ Cunningham JG, Klein BG (2007). Textbook of Veterinary Physiology (Fourth ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Inc.
  3. ^ Foster RA (January 2017). "Female reproductive system and mammae.". In Zachary JF (ed.). Pathologic basis of veterinary disease (6th ed.). Mosby. pp. 1147–1193. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-35775-3.00018-7. ISBN 978-0-323-35775-3.
  4. ^ Demirel MA, Suntar I, Ceribaşı S, Zengin G, Ceribaşı AO (2018-08-01). "Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of Artemisia absinthium L. on pseudopregnancy model in rats". Phytochemistry Reviews. 17 (4): 937–946. Bibcode:2018PChRv..17..937D. doi:10.1007/s11101-018-9571-3. ISSN 1572-980X. S2CID 254948383.