Levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 and insulin-like growth factor-II in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid at 9-20 weeks of pregnancy.
Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) were measured in amniotic fluid, extraembryonic fluid and maternal serum from 20 women with apparently normal first trimester pregnancies prior to termination. A further 111 specimens of amniotic fluid were collected from women at 10-20 weeks of pregnancy. Levels of IGFBP-2 were similar in coelomic fluid and maternal serum. Levels in amniotic fluid were lower than those in serum and coelomic fluid (Mann-Whitney test; P = 0.0002 and P < 0.0001 respectively). The levels of IGF-II were much higher in maternal serum than in coelomic fluid, and higher in the latter than in amniotic fluid (Mann-Whitney test; P < 0.0001 for both situations). The levels of IGFBP-2 were relatively low at 10-11 weeks (medians 19.8 and 61.1 micrograms/l) but thereafter increased to 20 weeks (median 1400 micrograms/l). The levels of IGF-II showed a similar pattern. The findings suggest that the role of IGF-II and IGFBP-2 in the regulation of growth or differentiation of the fetus or of its surrounding membranes may change with advancing pregnancy.
Chard
T
T
Department of Obstetrics, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, West Smithfield, London, UK.
Blum
W F
WF
Brunjes
J
J
Campbell
D J
DJ
Wathen
N C
NC
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D013002:Somatomedins; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II