1230 Prolactin and Human Lung Maturation

Smith, Yolande F.; Mullon, Darlene K.; Hamosh, Margjt; Scanlon, John W.; Hamosh, Paul

doi:10.1203/00006450-197804001-01236

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Ballard et al (3) have been unable to repeat our findings in rabbit fetuses. However, first Hauth et al (12) then we (15) and Gluckrnan et al (9,10) have confirmed independently an association between incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and low cord prolactin levels in premature infants. In this paper, we present our observations and compare the results with the other reports.…”

Section: Speculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum Prolactin and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Newborn

et al. 1980

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryProlactin levels were measured in cord blood by radioimmunoassay in 57 premature infants between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation. The level of prolactin was in the range of 20 to 600 ng/ ml. Twenty-three of the infants subsequently developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The mean cord prolactin in the infants with RDS was 140 + 30.7 ng/ml, whereas in the healthy infants it was 276.4 + 26.4 ng/ml. Cord prolactin levels less than 140 ng/ml were associated with a high incidence of RDS: of 25 infants with prolactin levels of less than 140 ng/ml, 19(76%) had RDS. Of the 34 healthy infants, 28(82%) had prolactin levels above 140 ng/ml. The highest levels (500 ng/ml) of prolactin in the group of infants with RDS were in two infants of diabetic mothers. The data suggest that prolactin might have a role in lung maturation in the human fetus. SpeculationProlactin is the latest hormone to be added to the list of hormones affecting lung maturation. Three groups have now reported a significant correlation between low cord prolactin levels and respiratory distress syndrome. The relative importance and mode of action of prolactin is unclear at present. Prolactin is present in very high concentration in amniotic fluid, and prolactin receptors are present in lung preparations. Prolactin might act as a direct trigger of lecithin synthesis or in a "chain reaction" along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It could also be only an indicator of the degree of lung maturation. However, it is rapidly becoming clear that prolactin has a major role not only in lactation but also in fat metabolism, ion transport, and probably lung maturation.Survival of the newborn infant depends primarily on its ability to establish effective ventilation. This ventilation is directly related to the presence of pulmonary surfactant in sufficient quantity to ensure alveolar stability (2). The precise mechanism that regulates fetal lung maturation is not clear at Dresent. Acceleration of -~ ~ U surfactant synthesis by corticosteroids and thyroxine has been demonstrated both in ex~erimental animals (6. 17) and human subjects (5, 13). ow eve;, studies by ~e s h e r ' k t a i (14) suggest that cortisol is not a natural trigger of surfactant synthesis.We have shown that administration of prolactin to fetal rabbits in utero leads within two days to a 67% increase in lung lecithin content (1 I), and we have suggested, therefore, that prolactin may be a physiological trigger of surfactant synthesis and lung maturation. Ballard et al. (3) have been unable to repeat our findings in rabbit fetuses. However, first Hauth et al. (12) then we (15) and Gluckrnan et al. (9,10) have confirmed independently an association between incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and low cord prolactin levels in premature infants. In this paper, we present our observations and compare the results with the other reports. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe subjects of this study were 57 premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of Georgetown Medical C...

show abstract

Section: Speculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum Prolactin and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Newborn

et al. 1980

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Prolactin may be important for lung maturation and surfactant synthcsis,12'17 and the possibility that low plasma concentration might be of aetiological importance in hyaline membrane disease in preterm infants has been suggested and debated by several groups.7 [12][13][14][15] [18][19][20][21][22] Further evidence, also debated, points to a possible role for prolactin in the growth of the gut and its mucosal function and the intestinal absorption of fluid and ions.26…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma prolactin and clinical outcome in preterm infants.

Lucas

Baker

Cole

1990

Archives of Disease in Childhood

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plasma prolactin was measured weekly in 280 preterm infants. The complex gestational age dependent pattern of postnatal prolactin release has been defined and reference standards provided. Plasma prolactin was higher in girls, with increasing divergence between the sexes from the third week onwards, and higher after two weeks, in infants of mothers with pregnancy related hypertension. Diet, assigned randomly, exerted a major effect on plasma prolactin, with significantly higher values in infants fed donor breast milk or standard formula than in those fed a protein, energy, and mineral enriched preterm formula. After adjusting for confounding factors, infants with the lowest plasma prolactin concentrations (<1000 mU/l, 32-9 jig/l) occurring usually at a nadir between days 5 and 12, showed a 120% increase in the duration of ventilatory assistance required, a 20% increase in the number of days to attain full enteral feeds, and a 30% decrease in length gain.We suggest preterm birth disrupts the normal perinatal pattern of prolactin release and that those infants who develop relatively low plasma concentration have an adverse outcome. Our data add to the broader debate on whether preterm infants require multiple endocrine replacement treatment.

show abstract

“…The reason for this discrepancy is not clear. How ever, several reports have associated PRL with a number of developmental events dur ing the perinatal period [19][20][21][22], Recently, plasma PRL levels have been correlated to the clinical outcome of preterm infants [23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-l and Prolactin in Small for Gestational Age Neonates

Varvarigou

Vagenakis²,

Makri³

et al. 1994

Neonatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Growth hormone (hGH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and prolactin (PRL) were measured in the cord and venous blood of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates in order to evaluate their endocrine status during the first 3 days of life. Although there were SGA newborns with both high and normal levels of hGH, the mean ( ± SD) concentration of hGH in the cord blood of the SGA neonates was 72.1 ± 50.6 ng/ml, whereas in the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) newborns it was 37.0 ± 23.5 (p = 0.001). The IGF-I in the cord blood of the SGA and the AGA newborns was 194.2 ± 174.8 ng/ml and 77.3 ± 50.2, respectively (p = 0.013). The PRL in the SGA and AGA newborns was 184.8 ± 62.4 ng/ml and ± 60.5, respectively (p = 0.0005). On the 3rd day the hGH in the SGA babies was 50.7 ± 41.2, whereas in the AGA it was 24.3 ± 12.3 (p = 0.034). On the same day the IGF-I was ± 120.9 and 44.8 ± 31.6, respectively (p > 0.05). Similarly, the PRL was 157.1 ± 52.3 and 90.9 ± 52.5, respectively (p = 0.0008). All neonates with high hGH concentrations had low IGF-I levels, whereas of those with normal hGH half had high and half normal IGF-I levels. There was no difference in the hormone levels between symmetric and asymmetric intrauterine growth-retarded infants. The findings suggest that the SGA neonates are heterogeneous comprising three groups. The neonates with high hGH and low IGF-I may have resistance at the level of the hGH receptor or a defect in IGF-I synthesis, whereas those with normal hGH and high IGF-I may have a post-IGF-I receptor defect, with compensatory increase in IGF-I synthesis independent of hGH control.

show abstract

1230 Prolactin and Human Lung Maturation

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Serum Prolactin and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Newborn

Serum Prolactin and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the Newborn

Plasma prolactin and clinical outcome in preterm infants.

Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-l and Prolactin in Small for Gestational Age Neonates

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About