Abstract
In order to evaluate pituitary LH secretion, total LH (including hCG) and its α- and β-subunits were measured from birth to the 7th day of life by radio-immunoassays. Since no sex difference was observed, data will include both sexes. In 6 male and 6 female newborn infants, “LH-hCG” decreased from 38.2 ± 5.7 mU/ml (MRC 69/104) at birth to 8.1 ± 0.7 (p < 0.01) at days 3–4 and increased to 12.7 ± 1.6 at days 6–7. In cord blood, specific plasma LH levels (Lequin's anti-LHβ) were 6.3 ± 0.2 ng/ml (LER 960) in both sexes. Plasma LH decreased to 4.3 ± 0.2 ng/ml on days 3–4 and 4.4 ± 0.4 on days 6–7. In contrast to the Lequin's anti-LHβ, mean plasma LH with the NIH anti-LHβ was lower in cord blood (1.6 ± 0.3 ng/ml). Mean level of α-subunits (LH-α radio-immunoassay) was 55.9 ± 7.2 ng/ml in cord plasmas. Alpha-subunit levels markedly decreased to 3.8 ± 0.8 ng/ml on day 1–2 and remained at 4.1 ± 0.3 ng/ml between days 3–7 in both sexes. In conclusion, hCG decreases very rapidly after birth; hCGα represents the bulk of α-subunit in cord blood. Pituitary LH levels are low during the first 5 days of life.
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Sizonenko, P., Aubert, M., Babel, J. et al. 53: Pituitary LH, α- and β-subunits during perinatal life. Pediatr Res 10, 880 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00050
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00050
