Studies on the Human Placental ACTH-like Substances. I

Extraction and Purification of Active Substances

Abstract

An ACTH-like substance was isolated from human placenta at term by glacial acetic acid extraction from acetone-dried powder, zinc acetate fraction, and oxycellulose adsorption. This substance is not a chemical unity, does not show gonadotrophic and prolactin activities, but showed a potency of about 0.9 I. U./mg. by the Sayer method, with ACTH (Schering) as a standard. Potency yield from one placenta was 7-8 I. U.