Lactation in the Absence of Human Growth Hormone

Rimoin, David L.; Holzman, Gerald B.; Merimee, Thomas J.; Rabinowitz, D.; Barnes, A C; Tyson, JE; McKusick, Victor A.

doi:10.1097/00006254-196905000-00019

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Similar findings have been observed in mice with congenital pituitary dwarfism (101) and after hypophysectomy of fetal rats (102), rabbits (102), sheep (103,104), and monkeys (105). Children born to women with isolated growth hormone deficiency (106,107) or to mothers hypophysectomnized during gestation do not show evidence of growth retardation (105,108,109). The possible role of insulin as a "growth hormone" in the fetus is not inconsistent vith its known biological actions.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

The Ontogenesis of Human Fetal Hormones

Kaplan¹,

Grumbach²,

Shepard³

1972

J. Clin. Invest.

204

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A B S T R A CThere was a significant positive correlationi betweeni growth hormone content of the l)ituitary and gestational age, crown-rump length., and the weiglht of the l)ituitary gland.The content and concentration (nmicrogranis/niflligrani) of human growth hormone (HGEI) in the fetal pituitary showed significant incremenits (P < 0.001) for each 4 wk period of gestation until 35 wk. Furtlher increases in the HGH content were noted in l)ituitaries of children aged 1-9 yr (range of 832 to 11,211g).Immunoreactive GH was detected in fetal serumii at a concentration of 14.5 ng/ml as early as 70 (lays gestation, the youngest fetus assayed. The increment in content and concentration of pituitary GH bore a significant relationship to gestational age, crown-rump length, and to the weight of the pituitary gland (Table II and Figs. 2 and 3).The concentration and content of GH in the pituitaries of children less than 1 yr of age was comparable to the levels detected in fetal pituitaries at 32-40 wk of gestation with a mean content of 1202±252 Ag and a meani concentration of 10.1 + 1.4 Ag/mg (Fig. 1 ) (Fig. 4).Further evidence for the similarity of the GH in the pituitary gland of the fetus and adult was the comparable physicochemical properties observed after disc electrophoresis (Fig. 5). The position of the major band for the pituitary homogenates is similar, but the major band of the purified HGH was slightly more anodal. Similar observations were made after immunoelectrophoresis. The crest of the precipitin arc for the fetal pituitary homogenate when reacted with antiserum to HGH was located in slightly cathodal position and was similar to that observed for homogenates of pituitary glands of the children and adults (Fig. 6) (Fig. 7). The mean concentration at 10-14 wk was 65.2±9.6 ng/ml; at 15-19 wk mean concentration was 114.9±12.5 ng/ml; at 20-24 wk mean concentration was 119.3±19.8 ng/ml; at 25-29 wk the mean concentration was 72.0±6.5 ng/ml; and at 30-40 wk the mean 2Deamidation and other structural alterations of pituitary HGH during purification procedures affect its electrophoretic mobility (34). concentration was 26.5±11.5 ng/ml. The mean concentration in umbilical venous serum specimens obtained at delivery was 33.5±4.2 ng/ml.The concentration of serum HGH showed a significant negative correlation with gestational age (P < 0.001) (Table II).A significant difference was demonstrated in the mean concentration of serum HGH at 10-14 wk compared with all other gestational periods (P > 0.05) (Table I). No significant difference was demonstrated between the mean concentration at 15-19 wk, 20-24 wk, or 25-29 wk. The mean concentration of serum GH at 25-29 wk was significantly greater than at 30-40 wk (P < 0.02).In 17 fetuses from which matched serum and pituitary specimens were obtained, there was no significant correlation of the concentration of serum HGH to the pituitary content of HGH (P > 0.5) (Table II, Fig. 8).Serum HCS. HCS was detected in all 48 fetal sera tested in concentrations of 2-240 ng/ml. The lev...

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

The Ontogenesis of Human Fetal Hormones

Kaplan¹,

Grumbach²,

Shepard³

1972

J. Clin. Invest.

204

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Growth hormone levels are not elevated in nursing mothers during the puerperium (44)(45)(46). Patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency are able to have normal post partum lactation (47). Histologic studies of pituitaries from pregnant women have long indicated the presence of "pregnancy cells" (48)(49)(50) which are difficult to observe in normal adult pituitaries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Prolactin: Measurement in Plasma by In Vitro Bioassay

Kleinberg¹,

Frantz²

1971

J. Clin. Invest.

103

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A B S T R A C T Prolactin has been measured in unex-tracted human plasma by a sensitive and specific in vitro bioassay. Secretory activity of breast tissue fragments from mid-pregnant mice, incubated in organ culture with human plasma, serves as the histologic end point.Sensitivity is 5 ng/ml (0.14 mU/ml) or somewhat better for ovine prolactin, and approximately 0.42 mU/ml for prolactin activity of human plasma at the dilutions used in the assay. Human growth hormone as it circulates in blood, like the material extracted from pituitary glands, is strongly lactogenic. Antisera to human growth hormone are capable of completely neutralizing the prolactin effect of large amounts (600 ng/ml) of human growth hormone added to the system. Plasma prolactin activity is less than 0.42 mU/ml in normal men and women. Of 26 patients with nonpuerperal galactorrhea, 14 had elevated prolactin activities ranging from 0.42 to 3.5 mU/ml. Growth hormone levels by radioimmunoassay were far too low, in general, to account for the observed prolactin activity. All of 14 nursing mothers, 1-30 days post partum, had elevated prolactin activity with a mean of 2.29 and a total range of 0.56-4.5 mU/mi.Growth hormone was in the low normal range in all of these subjects. Seven patients on psychoactive drugs of the phenothiazine series similarly had elevated prolactin activity with low growth hormone. Antiserum to human growth hormone, when preincubated with plasma samples from each of these three groups of subjects, produced no significant inhibition of prolactin activity. In two acromegalic patients with markedly elevated growth hormone levels, antiserum to growth hormone produced complete inhibition of prolactin activity in one and partial inhibition in the other. These studies indicate that human growth hormone and human prolactin This work was presented in part at

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“…On the other hand, at the same time, it was observed that most patients with pituitary tumors in whom galactorrhea and amenorrhea were the cardinal clinical features did not have acromegalic features (6) and patients who were known to have isolated, congenital GH deficiency were able to lactate postpartum (7). In 1970, Frantz and Kleinberg (8) developed a sensitive bioassay in which they used excess antibody to GH to neutralize any potential lactogenic effects it had and, for the first time, were able to demonstrate measurable PRL levels in women with puerperal and nonpuerperal galactorrhea but not in most normal men.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the Treatment of Prolactinomas

et al. 2006

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Prolactinomas account for approximately 40% of all pituitary adenomas and are an important cause of hypogonadism and infertility. The ultimate goal of therapy for prolactinomas is restoration or achievement of eugonadism through the normalization of hyperprolactinemia and control of tumor mass. Medical therapy with dopamine agonists is highly effective in the majority of cases and represents the mainstay of therapy. Recent data indicating successful withdrawal of these agents in a subset of patients challenge the previously held concept that medical therapy is a lifelong requirement. Complicated situations, such as those encountered in resistance to dopamine agonists, pregnancy, and giant or malignant prolactinomas, may require multimodal therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy, or both. Progress in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of prolactinomas may enable future development of novel molecular therapies for treatment-resistant cases. This review provides a critical analysis of the efficacy and safety of the various modes of therapy available for the treatment of patients with prolactinomas with an emphasis on challenging situations, a discussion of the data regarding withdrawal of medical therapy, and a foreshadowing of novel approaches to therapy that may become available in the future.

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Lactation in the Absence of Human Growth Hormone

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

The Ontogenesis of Human Fetal Hormones

The Ontogenesis of Human Fetal Hormones

Human Prolactin: Measurement in Plasma by In Vitro Bioassay

Advances in the Treatment of Prolactinomas

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