Effect of cortisol, prolactin and ADH on the amniotic membrane.

Abstract

VERY little is known about the endocrine regulation of amniotic fluid volume and composition1,2. Vizsolyi and Perks2 have described a technique for studying the transfer of fluid across the amniotic membrane of the guinea pig in vitro. They showed that arginine vasotocin and arginine vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) could stimulate the movement of fluid from the maternal to the foetal side of the membrane. Because prolactin is found in remarkably high concentrations (up to 10 µg ml−1) in primate amniotic fluid3,4 and affects renal function5–8, we have investigated the effect of prolactin as well as of arginine vasopressin on the guinea pig amniotic membrane. Because cortisol can reverse the usual antidiuretic effect of ADH and because prolactin can restore this effect9, we have also investigated the action of cortisol. We have shown that ADH and prolactin have opposite effects on the amniotic membrane and that, in both cases, their actions can be reversed by cortisol. We suggest that fluid transfer across the amniotic membrane may provide an insight to the functioning of the kidneys, the ciliary body and the choroid plexus.