Gonadotropin releasing hormone in first trimester human placenta: isolation, partial characterisation and in vitro biosynthesis

Abstract

Using a specific radioimmunoassay for gonadotropin releasing hormone, the presence of gonadotropin releasing hormone like material in the first trimester human placenta has been demonstrated. The material has been partially characterized using carboxy methyl cellulose chromatography, high pressure gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase C18 high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. Analysis for bioactivity revealed that placental gonadotropin releasing hormone is much more active than synthetic gonadotropin releasing hormone in in vitro rat pituitary lutinising hormone release assay. In vitro biosynthetic studies using labelled precursors and immunoaffinity chromatography indicated that first trimester human placenta synthesizes gonadotropin releasing hormone like material.