Immunoreactive α-MSH in human plasma in pregnancy

Clark, Douglas H.; Thody, A. J.; Shuster, Sam; Bowers, Hayley

doi:10.1038/273163a0

Cited by 84 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Decreases in their levels in the pituitary gland have been reported after copulation or vaginal stimulation to induce pseudopregnancy (Taleisnik & Tomatis, 1968,1970. Similar decreases occur during pseudopregnancy (Taleisnik & Tomatis, 1970) or during pregnancy itself (Karkun & Sen, 1965) when plasma and urinary levels are increased (Shizume & Lerner, 1954;Anees & Pomerantz, 1974;Clark, Thody, Shuster & Bowers, 1978). A physiological function for the melanotrophins in pregnancy has been suggested from interesting observations on fetal growth Swaab, Visser & Tilders, 1976;Swaab & Visser, 1977).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Wilson¹,

Morgan²

1980

Journal of Endocrinology

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alpha-Melanotrophin was detected by radioimmunoassay in the pituitary glands of fetal rats from day 17 of gestation. The pituitary content of alpha-melanotrophin increased regularly, at a gradually decreasing rate, throughout gestation and in the postnatal period. Concentrations of alpha-melanotrophin in the plasma of fetal and newborn rats were below the detection limit of the radioimmunoassay (10 pmol/l). Detectable concentrations were first found in young rats on day 3 after birth and did not differ significantly from those in their mothers throughout the period of suckling. Plasma concentrations of alpha-melanotrophin were raised in pregnant rats during the last 4 days of gestation and after parturition. They returned to basal levels in the 2 weeks after delivery. After weaning at 3 weeks of age, a large increase in the plasma concentration of alpha-melanotrophin was detected in juvenile rats. Plasma levels had returned to the normal adult range by 6 weeks of age. The increases in alpha-melanotrophin in the blood were thought to be the result of non-specific stress effects. The data did not provide evidence for a role of alpha-melanotrophin in reproductive processes in the rat.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Wilson¹,

Morgan²

1980

Journal of Endocrinology

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“…In addition, no other MSHs have been known to be present at significant concentrations in the circulation of healthy subjects. a-MSH in plasma (70 pmol/L) has been detected only at later stages of pregnancy (24). P-MSH has been detected in plasma of patients with the ectopic corticotropin (ACTH) syndrome but not in plasma of healthy subjects (25).…”

Section: Concentration Of Lmmunoreactive -Msh With Low Molecular Weimentioning

confidence: 99%

Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for _γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (_γ‐msh) and measurement of immunoreactive _γ‐msh in plasma of healthy subjects

Yogi¹,

Hashida²,

Ekman³

et al. 1995

Clinical Laboratory Analysis

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A noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero-two-site enzyme immunoassay) for gamma 2-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (gamma 2-MSH) was developed. gamma 2-MSH (1-12) was biotinylated, trapped onto an anti-gamma 2-MSH (1-12) IgG-coated polystyrene bead, eluted at pH 1 after washing to eliminate other biotinylated substances, and measured using two streptavidin-coated polystyrene beads and affinity-purified anti-gamma 2-MSH (1-12) Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. The detection limit of gamma 2-MSH (1-12) was 10-30 amol (16-48 fg)/assay and 130-400 fmol (210-630 pg)/L of plasma. There was little or only slight cross reaction with alpha-MSH, beta-MSH, and gamma 1-MSH. By this immunoassay, the concentration and molecular size of immunoreactive gamma 2-MSH in plasma of healthy subjects were examined, and the results were compared with those by competitive enzyme immunoassay. Immunoreactive gamma 2-MSH measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay was a mixture of substances with high molecular weights (100-500 kDa), and its concentration was calculated to be 50-60 pmol/L using gamma 2-MSH (1-12) as standard. Immunoreactive gamma 2-MSH detected by the noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay after removal of high molecular weight substances was not homogeneous and smaller than gamma 2-MSH (1-12), and its concentration was approximately 1 pmol/L. The exact nature of these immunoreactive gamma 2-MSHs remains to be elucidated. gamma 2-MSH (1-12) added to plasma was degraded rapidly, and the concentration of gamma 2-MSH (1-12) was very low, if any, in plasma of healthy subjects.

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“…However, until now relatively few authors have reported on -MSH in the blood of humans. Due to the rather large variation in sensitivity of the assays employed, most of these reports have been rather contradictory about the actual presence of this peptide in the human circulation (Clark et al 1978;Nieuwenhuijzen Kruseman et al 1985;Ratter et al 1981). Nevertheless, it has been well established that the hu¬ man foetal pituitary contains a substantial number of a-MSH producing cells located in a distinct pars intermedia (Visser & Swaab 1979) and that a-MSH from these cells might, among others be functional in stimulating foetal adrenal growth and development (Silman et al 1976(Silman et al , 1981 (Kleber et al 1980;Visser & Swaab 1979).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Most radioimmunoassay's (RIA's) for -MSH do not have the sensitivity required for accurately measuring the apparently low levels of -MSH in human plasma, since basal levels for this hormone usually lie below the detection level of the assay's used (Clark et al 1978;Ratter et al 1981). We have now developed a sensitive and specific detection system, consist¬ ing of a combination of respectively a Sep-pak column, a high pressure liquid Chromatograph (MPLC) and a specific RIA in order to study the possible presence and nature of small amounts of a-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of α-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma

Kortlandt

Rotte

Arts

et al. 1986

Acta Endocrinologica

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We report new information on the presence of \g=a\-melanotropin(\g=a\-MSH)-likeimmunoreactivity in the peripheral circulation of the adult human. Pooled blood from 20 patients with non-endocrine diseases was subjected to a Sep-pak pre-purification followed by a high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) fractionation. The eluate from the HPLC column was analyzed by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific for the C-terminal part of the \g=a\-MSHmolecule. From this it appeared that \g=a\-MSHwas the major \g=a\-MSH-likeimmunoreactive peptide present in human blood with a level of 2\p=n-\5 pg/ml. This level is similar to the one determined by direct measurements in Sep-pak pre-purified human plasma (median 2.0 pg/ml, n = 11). Des-acetyl \g=a\-MSH was present in human blood in only a minor quantity. We discuss this finding in view of earlier reports on \g=a\-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human pituitary tissue.

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Immunoreactive α-MSH in human plasma in pregnancy

Cited by 84 publications

References 22 publications

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for _γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (_γ‐msh) and measurement of immunoreactive _γ‐msh in plasma of healthy subjects

Characterization of α-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma

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Immunoreactive α-MSH in human plasma in pregnancy

Cited by 84 publications

References 22 publications

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

LEVELS OF Α-Melanotrophin IN THE PLASMA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF FETAL AND JUVENILE RATS, AND IN THE PLASMA OF ADULT FEMALE RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (γ‐msh) and measurement of immunoreactive γ‐msh in plasma of healthy subjects

Characterization of α-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma

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Noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (hetero‐two‐site enzyme immunoassay) for _γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (_γ‐msh) and measurement of immunoreactive _γ‐msh in plasma of healthy subjects