These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Presence of pro-opiomelanocortin peptides and corticotropin-releasing factor in human placenta.
    Author: Ng ML, Healy DL, Rajna A, Fullerton M, O'Grady C, Funder JW.
    Journal: Malays J Pathol; 1996 Jun; 18(1):59-63. PubMed ID: 10879226.
    Abstract:
    Immunoreactive adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), beta-endorphin (BEP) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were detected in human term placenta obtained from elective Caesarian surgery. The concentrations of ACTH, BEP and CRF in placenta detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA) were 2.83 +/- 0.36, 0.52 +/- 0.05 and 0.56 +/- 0.15 ng/g wet weight of tissue respectively. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) peptides were also detected in the amnion and chorion membranes and in the decidua. The concentrations of ACTH were 1.72 +/- 0.20, 4.43 +/- 0.39 and 5.80 +/- 0.17 ng/g and the levels of BEP were 0.42 +/- 0.18, 0.65 +/- 0.20 and 3.66 +/- 1.10 ng/g in the amnion, chorion and decidua respectively. In contrast to placenta, immunoreactive CRF was not detected in the amnion, chorion and decidua. Immunoreactive N-acetylated BEP was also not detected in all the placental subfractions. Comparison of the amounts of both ACTH and BEP in the various placental components indicated the following distribution: decidua > chorion > placenta > amnion. In decidua, POMC peptides were present in an equi-molar ratio but in the other three placental fractions, ACTH levels were three to five-fold higher than BEP. In immunohistochemical studies, only a positive staining for ACTH was obtained for decidua. Our results confirm the presence of POMC peptides and CRF in placenta and their physiological roles in pregnancy and parturition.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]