Heterogeneity of pituitary and endogenous plasma human growth hormone from fetuses, premature and full-term newborns.
Fetal and adult human growth hormone (HGH) extract from human pituitaries as well as plasma from premature and full-term newborns and children were submitted to chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and the immunoreactive HGH (IRHGH) in the elution fractions was determined quantitatively by radioimmunoassay. Three fractions of IRHGH could be differentiated according to the elution pattern: 'big-big', 'big' and 'little' IRHGH. In fetal pituitary extract only 'big-big' and 'little' IRHGH were found, whereas in adult pituitary extract all three forms of IRHGH were present. In the plasma samples studied no 'big-big' form was found; only 'big' and 'little' IRHGH appeared. In addition, plasma samples of premature newborns had a smaller proportion of the 'big' IRHGH than did those of the full-term newborns and older children.
D005333:Fetus; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis*
D013006:Growth Hormone