INCREASED PLASMA CONCENTRATION OF N‐TERMINAL β‐LIPOTROPHIN AND UNBOUND CORTISOL DURING PREGNANCY

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Abstract
The plasma concentration of N-terminal .beta.-lipotropin (.beta.-LPH), total and protein unbound cortisol, progesterone and the transcortin (CBG) binding parameters were measured in 21 women in the early follicular phase and in 70 pregnant women at various stages of pregnancy. The plasma CBG binding capacity and the concentrations of total cortisol and progesterone increased significantly at each trimester of pregnancy while the plasma concentration of unbound cortisol increased significantly only in the 2nd and the 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. In addition, a significant increase of N-terminal .beta.-LPH level was observed during the 3rd trimester. By chromatography, it is demonstrated that during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy the .beta.-LPH/.gamma.-LPH molar ratio decreases dramatically and the increase of N-terminal .beta.-LPH concentration is mainly due to a 2-fold increase in .gamma.-LPH concentration.