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 WILSON, J. F. Articles by MORGAN, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by WILSON, J. F. Articles by MORGAN, M. A.

-Melanotrophin was detected by radioimmunoassay in the pituitary glands of fetal rats from day 17 of gestation. The pituitary content of -melanotrophin increased regularly, at a gradually decreasing rate, throughout gestation and in the postnatal period. Concentrations of -melanotrophin in the plasma of fetal and newborn rats were below the detection limit of the radioimmunoassay (10 pmol/l). Detectable concentrations were first found in young rats on day 3 after birth and did not differ significantly from those in their mothers throughout the period of suckling. Plasma concentrations of -melanotrophin were raised in pregnant rats during the last 4 days of gestation and after parturition. They returned to basal levels in the 2 weeks after delivery. After weaning at 3 weeks of age, a large increase in the plasma concentration of -melanotrophin was detected in juvenile rats. Plasma levels had returned to the normal adult range by 6 weeks of age. The increases in -melanotrophin in the blood were thought to be the result of non-specific stress effects. The data did not provide evidence for a role for -melanotrophin in reproductive processes in the rat.