title: Presence of corticotropin in human placenta: demonstration of in vitro synthesis.
abstract: Immunoassayable (I) and bioassayable (B) ACTH activity is present in extracts of extensively washed human placental tissue and dispersed viable trophoblasts (Tr). Similar concentrations (I) (1.7-2.7 ng/g) are present in term placentas from elective cesarian section or vaginal delivery and from plancentas obtained by prostaglandin-induced abortion at 12, 15 and 18 weeks of gestation. Oral dexamethasone (8-12 mg) administered over an 8-48 h period prior to delivery does not significantly alter placental ACTH content. B-ACTH concentrations are 31-40% of I-ACTH. Sephadex G-50 filtration of term placental homogenates demonstrates two I-ACTH peaks, one eluting in the void volume and the other eluting in the region of synthetic hACTH1-39. When Tr are incubated in tissue culture medium, ACTH content of cells and of medium is significantly greater than pre-incubation levels.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D014357:Trypsin