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Serum prolactin concentration in normal and small for gestational age fetuses
J G Thorpe-Beeston1, R J Snijders, C V Felton
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Objectives:
To study fetal and maternal serum prolactin concentrations in appropriately-grown (AGA) fetuses and in small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses.
Design:
A cross-sectional study of 27 AGA and 27 SGA fetuses undergoing cordocentesis for prenatal diagnosis or for determination of fetal karyotype and acid-base balance. Serum prolactin concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay.
Setting:
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine.
Results:
In the AGA group, both fetal and maternal serum prolactin concentration increased significantly with gestation (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). In the SGA group, the fetal concentration of prolactin was significantly higher (P < 0.05), but the maternal serum prolactin concentration was not different from that of the AGA group.
Conclusions:
The finding of prolactin in the fetal circulation suggests that the anterior lobe of the pituitary is functioning from at least 12 weeks gestation. The increased serum prolactin concentration in SGA fetuses may be the consequence of hypoglycemic stress on the pituitary or the relative immaturity of the inhibitory hypothalamic-pituitary pathways.