title: Dynamics of prolactin in amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid in early human pregnancy.
abstract: Concentrations of prolactin were measured by an immunoradiometric assay in 26 matched samples of amniotic fluid, extraembryonic coelomic fluid and maternal serum from 9 to 12 weeks of pregnancy and in a further 131 amniotic fluid samples from 9 to 20 weeks. Low levels of prolactin (median 40 MU/l) were present in amniotic fluid from 9 to 12 weeks. Levels in the coelomic fluid were higher (median level 371 MU/l; P < 0.0001) than in amniotic fluid. From 13 weeks, there was a rapid rise in amniotic fluid prolactin to reach a peak at 19 weeks (median level 99,850 MU/l). The pattern of increase of prolactin in amniotic fluid is similar to, but occurs 2 weeks later than that for insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1, another major decidual product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wathen
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Touzel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chard
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D011388:Prolactin