Figure 2. Relative levels of cortisol and DHEAS secretion by the fetal adrenal cortex during gestation as well as postnatally.

Approximate times of several events are shown (see “Endocrinology of human pregnancy”). The existence of the first peak of cortisol secretion at 8–10 wpc was demonstrated in this issue by Goto et al. (1). Vertical axis is logarithmic, but values are approximate. Horizontal axis is not to scale.