Human growth hormone (HGH) and somatomedin (Sm) concentrations have been studied in a group of newborns.Plasma HGH values were 41.17 \ m=+-\ 24.26 (sd) ng/ml (14.00-90.00 ng/ml) and the Sm value was 0.59 \ m=+-\0.43 (sd) U/ml (0.18\p=n-\1.8U/ml); the difference between these values and the ones observed in normal adults (2.45 \ m=+-\2.53 (sd) ng/ml and 1.16 \ m=+-\0.28 (sd) U/ml respectively) were statistically significant. While growth hormone values were higher than in normal adult controls, somatomedin was significantly decreased. It is possible that the dissociation between human growth hormone and somatomedin in newborn could reflect a reduced biosynthesis of the somatomedin-generating system and consequently a lack of a feed-back control on GH exerted by somatomedin.The influence of growth hormone (GH) on development is well established. However, the period when GH begins to exert its action has not been well defined (Rimoin et al. 1968). It has been demonstrated that during the intrauterine period, only a negligible amount of human growth hormone (HGH) is transferred from the mother to the foetus (Gillin et al. 1965;Laron et al. 1966) with almost no contribution of HGH from the mother to the development of the foetus.HGH has been measured in the foetal pituitary gland early in the first 3 months of pregnancy (Cornblalh 8c Parker 1965; Daughaday 1971). The se¬ cretory activity as well as the presence of adequate cellular structures have been demonstrated in pituitaries of foetuses at the 7th week of pregnancy
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