Abstract
FUKAYA, T., FURUHASHI, N., SHINKAWA, O., KONO, H., TAKAHASHI, T. and SUZUKI, M. The Human Fetal Prolactin and Estradiol Levels, and Their Correlationship. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1984, 143 (1), 87-92-Serum prolactin and estradiol-17β levels were determined in umbilical cord sera obtained from 33 preterm, 118 full-term and 11 anencephalic infants and in peripheral sera obtained from 5 neonates. Prolactin levels increased from mid-gestation toward term, and markedly decreased after birth. Those in anencephalic infants (253±86ng/ml, mean±S.D.) were lower than in full-term infants (324±119ng/ml), but the difference was not statistically significant. We also performed thyroid-releasing-hormone (TRH) (50-200μg) test on 5 anencephalic infants, but significant changes of serum prolactin levels were not found. Estradiol-17β levels in anencephalic infants were significantly lower than those in full-term infants. There was a significant positive correlation between cord prolactin and estradiol-17β levels in full-term infants. These results suggest one of the control factors for human fetal pituitary prolactin secretion is estrogen, and hypothalamic factors are not so important.-prolactin; estradiol; TRH; fetus
