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*Joint Academic Unit of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction Physiology, The Medical Colleges of St Bartholomew's and The London Hospital, 51–53 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7BE and Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology, The University, Glasgow, G2 0NA

(Received 17 December 1976)

It is generally accepted that the secretion of prolactin from the mammalian pituitary gland is under inhibitory control from the hypothalamus (Meites, 1973). During studies on the development of gonadotrophin secretion in the early human foetus (Gilmore, Dobbie, McNeilly & Mortimer, 1977) it became apparent that up to week 16, the hypothalamus may exert a stimulatory influence over prolactin release which switches to the adult situation as the foetus develops towards term. This communication describes these findings in more detail.

Pituitary glands, hypothalami, and cortices were collected from foetuses delivered by hysterotomy between 10 and 19 weeks of pregnancy. The tissues were immediately frozen on solid C0₂ and stored