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LEVELS OF α‐MELANOTROPHIN IN THE HUMAN FETAL PITUITARY GLAND THROUGHOUT GESTATION, IN ADULT PITUITARY GLAND AND IN HUMAN PLACENTA *
Author(s) -
F.WILSON J.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1982.tb01585.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , pituitary gland , gestation , radioimmunoassay , fetus , placenta , biology , endocrine gland , hormone , pregnancy , genetics
SUMMARY α‐Melanotrophin was detected by radioimmunoassay in the human fetal pituitary gland from 11 weeks of gestation. The peak hormone concentration of 3.4 nmol/g pituitary tissue was reached at 17–20 weeks. From 17 to 36 weeks of gestation the total gland content rose gradually from 28 to 102 pmol. During this latter period, the pituitary gland grew some 10‐fold, with the result that the α‐melanotrophin concentration declined steadily to 1–3 nmol/g. In the final month of gestation, both the total gland content and the concentration of α‐melanotrophin rose significantly to 254 pmol and 2.4 nmol/g respectively. The variations in pituitary gland content of α‐melanotrophin were consistent with a role for pars intermedia peptides in the fetus. α‐Melanotrophin‐like peptides were not demonstrated in human placental tissue.