Plasma Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Beta-Lipotropin, and Beta-Endorphin in the Human Fetus at Delivery

Abstract
.beta.-Endorphin (.beta.-EP) and .beta.-lipotropin(.beta.-LPH) are elevated in parallel with maternal blood and umbilical cord blood during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Recently, it was suggested that .beta.-EP stimulated the secretion of insulin and glucagon in human. Endocrinological mechanism of the control for fetal growth are still unclear. Simultaneous measurements of umbilical cord plasma ACTH, .beta.-LPH and .beta.-EP at delivery were made to investigate the influences of these peptides on fetal growth.