Tissue and Plasma Somatomedin-C/Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Concentrations in the Human Fetus during the First Half of Gestation

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Abstract
To investigate the possible role of somatomedin- C/insulin-like growth factor I (Sm-C/IGF I) in early human development, we measured this peptide by radioimmunoassay in extracts of multiple tissues and in plasma from fetuses during the first half of gestation (9-19 wk). All tissues contained Sm-C/IGF I far in excess of that which could be accounted for by Sm-C/IGF I derived from blood entrapment. Lung and intestine had the highest concentrations (166 ± 35 mU/g, n=25 and 160 ± 20 mil/ g, n=19, respectively; mean ± SEM) and liver the lowest (67 ± 16 mU/g, n=26). Plasma concentrations were 270 ± 20 mU/ml (n=20). Neither fetal weight (6-258 g) nor gestational age correlated with Sm-C/IGF I concentrations in any tissue or in plasma. These findings suggest that Sm- C/IGF I is synthesized in many human fetal tissues from as early as the 1st trimester. They also provide further evidence for an autocrine/paracrine role of this peptide growth factor.

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