title: Neurotransmitters and peptides modulate the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from cultured human placental cells.
abstract: The substances stimulating the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from cultured human placental cells were investigated. Monolayer primary cultures of trophoblast cells from pregnant women at term were used. The immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor released in the culture medium eluted from high-performance liquid chromatography with the same retention time as human corticotropin-releasing factor. Norepinephrine and acetylcholine increased immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release into the culture medium in a dose-related manner. Epinephrine was partially active, whereas dopamine and serotonin did not induce significant changes of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release from placental cultures. Angiotensin II, interleukin-1, oxytocin, and arginine-vasopressin also increased placental immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release in a dose-related manner, whereas other peptides (vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, somatostatin, atrial natriuretic factor, interleukin-2) were ineffective. These results showed that several neurotransmitters and peptides stimulate the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from placental cells, suggesting their possible involvement in the physiologic regulation of placental immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release during pregnancy and parturition.
authors.affiliation: Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine