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SOMATOMEDINS IN PREGNANCY - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I AND FACTOR-II AND SOMATOMEDIN PEPTIDE CONTENT IN NORMAL HUMAN PREGNANCIES JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM Wilson, D. M., Bennett, A., Adamson, G. D., Nagashima, R. J., Liu, F., DENATALE, M. L., Hintz, R. L., Rosenfeld, R. G. 1982; 55 (5): 858-861

Abstract

To explore the role of the somatomedins (SM) during human pregnancy, we have measured plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and SM peptide content (SMPC) in 79 women in various stages of normal pregnancies. IGF-I and IGF-II were measured by specific RIAs, and SMPC was measured by a radioreceptor assay using human placental membranes. IGF-I and SMPC rose during pregnancy, showing a significant positive correlation with the length of gestation. Plasma levels of IGF-I in the third trimester averaged 324 ng/ml, a 33% increase over the first trimester average of 243 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). Although IGF-II did not correlate with the length of gestation, the third trimester average was significantly higher than the first trimester average (780 vs. 630 ng/ml; P less than 0.05). After delivery, both IGF-I and IGF-II levels rapidly dropped to levels significantly below those seen in the third trimester. The gestational rise in SMPC and plasma levels of both IGF-I and IGF-II supports the hypothesis that SM play a role in the regulation of fetal growth.

View details for Web of Science ID A1982PM14600006

View details for PubMedID 6749878