Immunofluorescent localisation of a growth hormone‐like factor in normal and abnormal syncytiotrophoblast

Demonstration of Mammotrophic Activity of the Mouse Placenta in Organ Culture and by Transplantation

“…Secretion from the giant cells may be conducive to more effective placental function and hence to greater lactogen production. In human placentae, the fluorescent antibodies to human growth hormone are localized in the syncytiotrophoblast, suggesting that placental lactogen is produced in this region (Sciarra, Kaplan & Grumbach, 1963;Currie, Beck, Ellis & Read, 1966;Beck & Currie, 1967). However, these results cannot be extrapolated to the mouse placenta, in view of the marked structural difference between the two types of placenta.…”

<I>In vitro</I> Biosynthesis of Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) by Chorionic Tissue and the Diagnostic Value of HPL in Trophoblastic Disease

“…Midgley & Pierce (1962) showed that HCG was secreted from syncytiotrophoblast. Sciarra et al(1963) and Currie et al(1966) proved that HPL was localized in the same syncytiotrophoblast using the immunofluorescent antibody method. It has been known that this hormone has probably the sommatotropic and metabolic actions, that is, a combinational action of Prolactin and HGH.…”

The Half-Life of Human Placental Lactogen in Non-Immune and Immune Rhesus Monkeys

“…The polypeptide hormone, human placental lactogen (HPL), otherwise known as human chorionic somato-mammotrophin, can be detected in the trophoblast about 12 days after fertilization (Beck, 1970) and is present in the placenta throughout pregnancy (Currie, Beck, Ellis & Read, 1966); the plasma level rises progressively during pregnancy and at term reaches a maximal level which is approximately 1000 times greater than that of the related hormone, human growth hormone (Beck, Parker & Daughaday, 1965). Several different physiological functions have been suggested for this hormone, namely lactogenic (Josimovich & Maclaren, 1962), luteotrophic (Josimovich, Atwood & Goss, 1963) and somatotrophic (Kaplan & Grumbach, 1964), but its exact biological rôle in the pregnant woman has not been established.…”