Studies on Hormone Production by Human Fetal Pituitary Cell Cultures

Abstract

Growth hormone (HGH) elaboration in culture media of 16 human fetal anterior pituitary cell cultures was studied using the rocker incubator system. HGH was measured by radioimmunoassay technique. HGH was demonstrated in all culture media from human fetal pituitaries but no such activity could be demonstrated from media obtained from other tissue cultures. There was a general correlation between the age of the fetus and the amount of HGH elaborated. In each of the cultures established, the daily elaboration of HGH was reduced after a period of time ranging from 1 to 4 weeks. The biologic activity of the hormone was confirmed in one sample by bioassay. Generally, there appeared to be no correlation between the rate of cellular growth, morphologic appearance, and level of hormone elaboration. The growth appeared to be rapid initially and then to reach a plateau. Luteinizing hormone and thyrotropic hormone were tested for and were found in the culture media of one pituitary.