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TRH INJECTION DURING LABOUR: EFFECT ON MATERNAL AND FETAL PROLACTIN SECRETION
Author(s) -
MESSINIS I. E.,
LOLIS D. E.,
KANELLOPOULOS N.,
DALKALITSIS N.,
KANARIS C.
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.tb03164.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , prolactin , saline , umbilical artery , hormone , fetus , pregnancy , chemistry , biology , genetics
SUMMARY The effect of TRH injection on PRL levels in maternal serum and in serum of umbilical vein (UV) and artery (UA) was investigated in forty‐six women. Twenty‐two of them, with normal singleton term pregnancy, were given i.v. either saline solution (nine women, control group 1) or 200 μg of synthetic TRH (thirteen women, group 2) 30–45 min before normal delivery. Group 1 PRL values (mean ± SE) (ng/ml) in UV (428 ± 41) and UA serum (434 ± 45) were significantly higher than in maternal serum either before (285 ± 39) or after saline injection (331 ± 14) ( P < 0·05). In group 2, TRH induced a marked increase in maternal serum PRL (544 ± 33 v. 285 ± 39, P < 0·001) (difference from corresponding maternal serum PRL of group 1 significant, P < 0·001) but not in UV (409 ± 41) and UA (406 ± 48) PRL values (difference from the corresponding PRL values in UV and UA serum of group 1 non‐significant, P > 0·1). Group 2 maternal serum PRL values after TRH were significantly higher than in UV and UA serum ( P < 0·05). A significant positive correlation was found between UV and UA serum PRL values in both group 1 (r=0·858, P < 0·01) and group 2 (r=0·870, P < 0·001). Twelve of the remaining twentyfour women were given TRH either 10–20 min (four women), 60–75 min (four women), or 90–110 min (four women) before delivery. UA serum PRL values did not differ significantly from corresponding controls (twelve women). It is suggested, from these findings in women, that TRH injected into the mother in a single dose of 200 μg stimulates maternal but not fetal pituitary in late pregnancy during labour. This is possibly due to inability of TRH to cross the human placenta.