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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1987; 89(1): 48-54
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1210626
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Proopiomelanocortin-Related Peptides in Feto-Placental Structures throughout Pregnacy*

F. Facchinetti, A. E. Panerai1 , F. Petraglia, D. Radi, T. Setti, A. R. Storchi, A. R. Genazzani
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Head: Prof. A. R. Genazzani), University of Modena
  • 1Department of Pharmocology (Head: Prof. P. Mantegazza), University of Milano/Italy
*This work has been partly supported by CNR Progetto Finalizzato “Medicina·Preventiva e Riabilitativa” Sottoprogetti SP 7 e SP 8.
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Publication History

1986

Publication Date:
16 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

This study evaluates the presence of proopiomelanocortin(POMC)-related peptides in four embryos and eight fetal pituitaries starting from 5 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, fetal membranes (amnion and chorion) were also investigated.

Freshly collected samples were boiled in acetic acid to destroy enzymes, homogenized and submitted to high performance liquid chromatography (linear gradient from 25 to 40% acetonitrile in 0.01 M HCl, in 15′, 1.5 ml/mm). The collected fractions were tested for the presence of β-lipotrophin (β-LPH), β-endorphin(β-EP), γ-endorphin(γ-EP) through RIAs.

β-EP and β-LPH were detected from 7 weeks of pregnancy while γ-EP appeared later. Only the cephalic portion of the embryos contained the peptides where β-LPH predominates while no immunoreactivity was detected in the rostral one.

In the fetal pituitary there is a progressive increase of γ-EP according to the gestational age and both β-EP and β-LPH showed a trend toward constancy in the 15–25 week range.

Amnion and chorion contain a significant amount of the three peptides. Their ontogenesis starts earlier than in the embryo; β-LPH or β-EP were detected at 5 weeks of pregnancy. In both tissues β-EP was higher in the first than in the second trimester.

These data demonstrate a different pattern of POMO ontogeny and processing between the conceptus and his environment. This suggests that the POMC-related opiod system of the fetus and of fetal adnexes are independent of each other, possibly subserving to different functions.

Key words

Pituitary - Fetus - Ontogeny - Amnion - Opioids