The effect of bilateral fetal adrenalectomy on the concentration of ovine placental lactogen in pregnant ewe plasma.
The concentrations of ovine placental lactogen in the plasma of ewes, carrying intact or bilaterally adrenalectomized fetuses, were compared over the last third of gestation. The results were grouped into 10 day periods from 100 days of gestation until term or Caesarean delivery. In ewes carrying intact fetuses, plasma placental lactogen concentrations were 147.8 +/- 64 [5 (21)], 252.5 +/- 137.5 [5 (15)], 341.2 +/- 256.7 [6 (22)], 431.1 +/- 366.2 [6 (20)], 435.1 +/- 314.4 [4 (17)], and 325 +/- 175 [1 (17)] ng/ml in gestational ages 100-109, 110-119, 120-129, 130-139, 140-149 and greater than 150 days respectively (mean +/- SD [number of animals (number of samples)]). In the same age groupings, maternal plasma placental lactogen concentrations in ewes carrying bilaterally adrenalectomized fetuses were 88.5 [1 (2)], 190.4 +/- 55.8 [3 (20)], 204.4 +/- 75.1 [6 (41)], 299.8 +/- 210.5 [5 (18)], 345.5 +/- 24 [2 (12)] and 271.4 +/- 60.3 [1 (3)] ng/ml respectively. There were no significant differences between these values in any age group. The conclusion was that bilateral adrenalectomy of the fetus had no significant effect on the concentration of placental lactogen in maternal plasma.
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*
D010928:Placental Lactogen