Human Fetal Pituitary Glands Research Articles

Growth hormone in human fetal pituitary glands and cord blood.

ABSTRACT Growth hormone content in the pituitary gland was measured by radioimmunoassay in 48 human fetuses at various gestational stages. None of the fetuses of 6 weeks gestation contained detectable amounts of growth hormone. However, growth hormone was measurable in some fetuses starting at the 7th week, and by the 9th week it was detected in all fetuses studied. Thereafter, growth hormone content increased in excess of the body weight gain. Growth hormone concentration in cord blood was also studied in 7 fetuses. It ranged from 18 ng/ml in a 10-week-old to 120 ng/ml in a 4-month-old fetus. It was concluded that human fetuses synthesize and store growth hormone as early as the 7th gestational week.