The neuropeptide, head activator, in human placenta and serum from pregnant women

Abstract

The hydra neuropeptide, head activator, was detected in human placenta using radioimmunoassay. The placenta contained 11-68 fmol/g wet weight of head activator. The slope of the inhibition curve by placental extract in radioimmunoassay was identical to that of synthetic head activator. The molecular weight of the major immunoreactive head activator in placental extract corresponded to the synthetic head activator after Bio-Gel P-2 column chromatography. The peak of immunoreactive head activator in the extract emerged at the same retention time as that of the synthetic head activator on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Head activator was localized histologically in trophoblasts of placenta by peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining techniques. The head activator staining was inhibited by the excessive synthetic head activator. The serum head activator level during pregnancy ranged from 9 to 31 pmol/l. A positive linear correlation was found between serum head activator content and gestational weeks.Head activator is an undecapeptide with a molecu¬ lar weight of 1125 daltons and an amino acid se¬ quence of pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-lleLeu-Phe. Originally, it was discovered in the hydra and was found to exert a stimulatory effect on head specific growth and differentiation process (1). It was also found in the human hypothalamus, intes¬ tine (2,3), and in human plasma at a concentration of 20-100 pmol/1 (4). The physiological functions reported previously were stimulation of amylase secretion from rat pancreas (5) and the growth pro¬ moting effect of chick embryo brain cells (6).Whether head activator is also a differentiation factor of human fetal growth is unclear. The placenta regulates fetal growth through pregnancy by secreting many steroids and polypeptide hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen. Neuropeptides such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone have also been found in placenta (7).Using a sensitive and specific radioimmunoas¬ say, we here demonstrate that the neuropeptide, head activator, occurs in human placenta. Materials and MethodsThe five placentas were obtained from both normal term deliveries and abortion in the second month of preg¬ nancy. The tissue was repeatedly washed with cold 0.9% saline to free it of contaminated blood. After the blood vessels were removed it was stored at -20°C. Serum from 16 women, obtained from the second to tenth month of pregnancy, one being a twin and one a triplet pregnancy, serum from 4 non-pregnant women as controls, and um¬ bilical cord blood serum (4 women) were obtained at the Hamamatsu Medical Centre.Bio-Gel P-2 was obtained from Bio-Rad (Richmond, VA). Marker proteins for calibration of molecular weight were cytochrome c (12 500), ci-endorphin (1746), n'langiotensin I (1297) and 125I-triiodothyronine (650). Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was performed on a Chemcosorb 7-ODS-L column (2 x 25 ...

Плацентарний Препарат «Лаеннек» У Комплесному Лікуванні Пацієнтів Із Захворюваннями Щелепно-Лицевої Ділянки

“…У вітчизняну промисловість з 30-х років були впроваджені методи приготування екстракту та суспензії плаценти, розроблені В. П. філатовим, та препарати на їх основі по-чали широко застосовуватися в СрСр у різних галузях медицини [7]. З 40-х років препарати плаценти починають активно досліджувати в інших країнах світу: росія, японія, СШа, франція, Німеччина, індія, Корея, Китай [22].…”

Effects of hydra peptide morphogen and its analogue and fragments on DNA synthesis in tracheal epithelium and smooth muscle cells in newborn albino rats

“…HPM was also revealed in human placental trophoblasts. It was shown that blood content of HPM correlates with gestational age [ 12]. Our previous studies demonstrated that HPM is involved in the development and maintenance of structural homeostasis during the antenatal period [3,4].…”