Corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP): plasma levels decrease during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy

E A Linton; A V Perkins; R J Woods; F Eben; C D Wolfe; D P Behan; E Potter; W W Vale; P J Lowry

doi:10.1210/jcem.76.1.8421097

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Corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP): plasma levels decrease during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy

Journal article

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Corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP): plasma levels decrease during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy

E A Linton, A V Perkins, R J Woods, F Eben, C D Wolfe, D P Behan, E Potter, W W Vale and P J Lowry

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol.76(1), pp.260-262

1993

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.76.1.8421097

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Abstract

In pregnancy, maternal plasma corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) concentrations rise substantially in the third trimester and fall rapidly post-partum. A binding protein (BP) specific for CRH exists in the human circulation which inactivates CRH, thus possibly explaining why maternal ACTH does not rise outside normal limits throughout gestation. We here describe the measurement of CRH-BP directly in plasma during human pregnancy using a radioimmunoassay that is not affected by the presence of the high plasma levels of CRH that occur at this time. In 119 healthy non-pregnant individuals, mean CRH-BP levels were 4.46 nmol/L +/- 1.0 (SD), with a wide range of 1.81-7.24 nmol/L. Plasma CRH-BP in 34 pregnant women randomly sampled during the first and second trimesters also averaged 4.46 nmol/L +/- 1.54, with individual values ranging from 1.59-7.51 nmol/L and there was no correlation of CRH-BP levels with gestational age. In a group of 14 women sampled sequentially throughout the third trimester, plasma CRH-BP averaged 4.56 nmol/L +/- 1.70 at 30-35 weeks gestation and fell dramatically to 1.84 nmol/L +/- 0.43 at weeks 38-40 (P < 0.001). The post partum recovery in CRH-BP levels occurred within 48 hours of delivery. These results indicate that there is an increase in the availability of free, potentially bioactive CRH at term to stimulate the release of ACTH from the maternal pituitary and/or to act at a peripheral, non-pituitary CRH receptor(s).

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Title: Corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP): plasma levels decrease during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy
Authors: E A Linton (Author) - University of Reading
A V Perkins (Author) - University of Reading
R J Woods (Author) - University of Reading
F Eben (Author) - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
C D Wolfe (Author) - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
D P Behan (Author) - Salk Institute for Biological Studies
E Potter (Author) - Salk Institute for Biological Studies
W W Vale (Author) - Salk Institute for Biological Studies
P J Lowry (Author) - University of Reading
Publication details: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol.76(1), pp.260-262
Publisher: Oxford University Press
DOI: 10.1210/jcem.76.1.8421097
ISSN: 1945-7197
Organisation Unit: School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99685295402621
Output Type: Journal article

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