Comparative data on the radioimmunological and biological activity of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary gland and the blood serum of human fetuses
Skebel'skaia, I.B.; Kuznetsova, L.V.
Problemy Endokrinologii 24(1): 47-53
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0375-9660 PMID: 634947 Document Number: 125347
Determination of immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (LH) was carried out in 291 hypophyses of 8--34-week human fetuses, and in 92 blood serum samples of 14--34 week human fetuses. Immunoreactive LH was revealed in human hypophyses as soon as the 8th week of embryogenesis. In female fetuses the concentration and content of the hormone showed a sharp rise from the 14th--16th to the 19th--20th week. The LH concentration displayed a gradual decrease and the hormone content remained at the same level from the 21st--22nd to the 32nd--34th week. The LH concentration and content showed practically no change in male fetuses from the 14th--16th to the 23rd--24th week. A sharp elevation of the hormone level was observed from the 23rd--24th to the 27th--28th week. Immunoreactive LH was revealed in the blood of human fetuses from the 14th to the 34th week. The LH concentration was significantly greater from the 21st--22nd and 23rd--24th weeks in female than in male fetuses. In comparing the data obtained as a result of application of radioimmunological and biological methods there was revealed a coincidence of the time of appearance, of the changes and of the sex differences in the immunoreactive LH level and its biological activity in the hypophysis and in the blood of human fetuses.