Yoshinobu Tachibana

Concentrations of luteinizing hormone--human chorionic gonadotropin, beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, cortisol, and testosterone in cord sera and their correlations.

Abstract Luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin (LH-hCG), beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, cortisol, and testosterone were determined and correlated with each other in 62 samples of cord serum. Cortisol levels in male cord serum were significantly higher than those in female cord serum. Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between LH-hCG or β-hCG levels and testosterone levels in male cord serum. These data suggest that there are sex differences in the maturation of the fetal pituitary-gonadal axis.

Serum Cortisol Levels of Maternal Vein, Umbilical Artery, and Umbilical Vein Classified by Mode of Delivery

We measured maternal venous (MV), umbilical arterial (UA), and umbilical venous (UV) cortisol levels of 180 pregnancies at term. The cortisol level of MV was higher than that of UA and UV in all deliveries. The cortisol levels of three samples had no difference between the induced labor group and the spontaneous onset of labor group regardless of delivery mode. In spontaneous vaginal delivery the cortisol levels of three individual samples were significantly higher in primipara than in multipara. The positive correlations were observed in any modes of deliveries between the cortisol levels of MV and UA, and MV and UA and UV. These data suggest that the fetus may produce cortisol by itself and maternal cortisol may inflow to the fetus.

Effects of Synthetic LH-RH and TRH on Pituitary Function in Anencephalic Infants

The pituitary endocrine function in 4 anencephalic infants was studied by measuring the concentrations of growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in umbilical venous serum. There was no significant difference in hormone levels between the anencephalic and normal infants. The response of FSH and LH was negative after administration of 10 micrograms of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. The TSH levels after administration of 50 micrograms of TRH elevated about 4- to 6-fold over pre-administration levels. These results indicate that the hypothalamo-pituitary axis of the human fetus initiates its function from mid-pregnancy; TSH may have an autoregulating system of the pituitary itself.

Correlation of Birth Weights with Umbilical Cord Serum LH-hCG, FSH, β-hCG, Estradiol, Cortisol and Testosterone Levels

Luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin (LH-hCG), follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), estradiol, cortisol and testosterone levels were determined in cord venous serum and the correlation of birth weights with those hormone levels was investigated in 32 male and 35 female fetuses. There were significant negative correlations between LH-hCG or FSH levels and birth weights in the male fetus. Also there was a significant positive correlation between LH-hCG levels and birth weights in the female fetus. This data suggests that there is a sex difference during the development of the pituitary-gonadal axis.

Cord Serum Growth Hormone in the Human Fetus

Cord venous growth hormone (GH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 88 infants and 11 anencephalic infants. The mean GH levels decreased gradually from midgestation, preterm to term fetus. There was a significant (p less than 0.01) sex difference in the GH level of term fetuses. Anencephalic infants had low GH levels. There was a significant (p less than 0.01) negative correlation between the cord GH level and birth weight in the normal infant. These data suggest that there is a sex difference for fetal GH secretion and that GH is not so important for fetal growth, but the hypothalamus plays an essential role in the regulation of fetal GH secretion.

Human ACTH, β-Lipotropin and β-Endorphin Levels in Maternal Plasma at Delivery

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), Β-lipotropin (Β-LPH) and Β-endor-phin (Β-EP) were measured simultaneously in maternal plasma at delivery. Mean concentrations of Β-LPH and

Retrograde time-scale analysis of human placental lactogen, beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol levels in human maternal serum from the onset of spontaneous labor

We analyzed on a retrograde time scale which calculated in maternal serum, from the onset of spontaneous labor, human placental lactogen (hPL), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), unconjugated estriol (E3) levels, and the ratios among these hormones in the normal late pregnancy. Maternal serum hPL, beta-hCG, and unconjugated E3 levels were measured simultaneously and serially in regular menstrual sera from 27 women in late pregnancy (total 155 samples) by radioimmunoassay. The peak level of hPL was found at 2 weeks before labor, and the peak of beta-hCG was found during 2-4 weeks before the onset of spontaneous labor. On the other hand, the mean level of E3 rose slightly with advancing gestational age. The hormonal ratios of hPL to E3 and beta-hCG to E3 decreased gradually toward the onset of labor, but the ratios of hPL to beta-hCG did not change. From these data, it is possible to conclude that the onset of spontaneous labor can be predicted by measuring the levels of hPL and unconjugated E3 in maternal peripheral serum.