HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by FORSLING, M. L. Articles by FENTON, E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by FORSLING, M. L. Articles by FENTON, E.

Departments of Physiology, *The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, Cleveland Street, London, W1P 6DB, and St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Praed Street, London, W2 1PG

(Received 13 October 1976)

Recently there has been increasing interest in the possible role of foetal neurohypophysial hormones in parturition (Alexander, Bashore, Britton & Forsling, 1974; Burton, Illingworth, Challis & McNeilly, 1974). The significance of plasma levels in the mother and foetus depends on the placental permeability to the hormone. It has been suggested that in the sheep there is no placental transfer of oxytocin (Forsling, Jack & Nathanielsz, 1975) or arginine-vasopressin (AVP) (Alexander et al. 1974). Burton and her co-workers, however, reported that the guinea-pig placenta allows passage of oxytocin. It is therefore of interest to know whether this placenta which is haemochorial in nature is also permeable to AVP.

The placentae of nine guinea-pigs in the third trimester of pregnancy were perfused by recirculation