title: Gestational age-related inhibition of placental hCG, alpha hCG and steroid hormone release in vitro by a GnRH antagonist.
abstract: Human placental tissues have been shown to contain gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-(GnRH)-like activity. Thus, the effect of a potent GnRH antagonist (N-Ac-Pro1,D-p-Cl-Phe2,D-Nal(2)3,6-GnRH, obtained from Syntex Laboratories) on placental hormonal release was studied. Explant cultures of placentae of 6 to 15 weeks' gestation were studied. This GnRH antagonist did not inhibit the alpha human chorionic gonadotrophin (alpha hCG), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), oestrone or oestradiol release from the six- and nine-week placental cultures, but greatly suppressed the release of these hormones in the placental cultures from 13- and 15-week gestations. Synthetic GnRH partially reversed the action of this antagonist on the hormonal releases in the 15-week placental cultures. These data demonstrate a gestational age-related action of this antagonist on placental hormonal release. Thus, a role for the endogenous GnRH-like activity of the placenta in the control of placental hormonogenesis is indicated.
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D010905:Pituitary Hormone Release Inhibiting Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects*; D010926:Placental Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010905:Pituitary Hormone Release Inhibiting Hormones; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D010926:Placental Hormones; D004970:Estrone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D010928:Placental Lactogen