Abstract
In order to study the presence or absence of the anterior pituitary-like hormone in the fetal and placental circulations, and perhaps its effect on the fetal ovary determinations of the hormone were made upon the cord blood.
The blood specimens were obtained from the umbilical cords of 2 women immediately after the birth of the babies by severing the cords and allowing the blood from each of the cut ends to flow into separate vessels. The specimens obtained from the fetal side of the cut cords were considered to be fetal blood, and that from the maternal side, placental blood, or blood going from the mother to the fetus. The bloods thus obtained were allowed to clot and the serum only was used for the hormonal determinations. As relatively small quantities of serum could be obtained by this method, especially from the fetal side of the cord, the total quantities of serum obtained were injected. The immature rat was used as the test object, and a total of 4 rats were injected with the serum. In the first case of parturition 5 cc. of serum obtained from the placental end of the cut cord, and 5 cc. of serum obtained from the fetal end were injected into 2 immature rats respectively. In the second case 3 cc. of serum obtained from each end were injected on the same day.
The ovaries of the rats which received the placental blood serum in both the 5 cc. and 3 cc. quantities showed luteinized follicles (A.P.R. III). On the other hand, the ovaries of the rats which received the same quantities of serum from the fetal side of the cord (5 cc. and 3 cc. respectively) showed a negative response. Since 3 cc. of placental blood serum showed at least 1 R.U. of the anterior pituitary-like hormone, it is estimated that there are at least 165 R.U. per liter of blood entering the fetus during pregnancy. Aschheim and Zondek found 150 M.U. per liter.
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