# DECIDUAL PROLACTIN IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGIC PREGNANCIES

> **NIH NIH R37** · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · 1994 · $229,565

## Abstract

The overall objective of this proposal is to extend our investigations of
the regulation of the synthesis and release of prolactin from human
decidual tissue from normal pre-term and term pregnancies and from
pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios
and other pathologic conditions.  During the past few years, we have
demonstrated that the regulation of the synthesis and release of decidual
prolactin differs from that of pituitary prolactin.  Both the synthesis and
release of decidual prolactin appear to be primarily under "local control,
stimulated by a peptide released by the placenta and inhibited by
arachidonic acid and by the peptide released by the decidua.  The specific
aims of the proposal are to (1) isolate and characterize the placental and
decidual peptides which affect the release of decidual prolactin and
develop radioimmunoassays for their detection, (2) study the effects of the
peptides on the synthesis and release of prolactin from decidual explants
from normal and pathologic pregnancies at various stages of gestation, (3)
investigate the effects of progesterone, estrogen, prostaglandin and other
factors on the synthesis and release of the two peptides at various stages
of gestation, (4) determine the number and affinity of decidual binding
sites for the peptides during pregnancy, and (5) examine the effects of the
peptides on cyclic AMP levels, phospholipase A2 activity, the
phosphatidylinositol cycle and calcium flux in an enriched fraction of
decidual cells which synthesize and release prolactin.  Since studies
indicate that decidual tissue is the source of the large quantities of
prolactin in amniotic fluid, these investigations should provide insight
into the regulation of amniotic fluid prolactin in normal and pathologic
pregnancies.  Such investigations are of clinical importance since amniotic
fluid prolactin appears to have many important physiologic actions,
including regulation of the ion and water content of amniotic fluid.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197183
- **Project number:** 5R37HD015201-15
- **Recipient organization:** CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JZD1HLM2ZU83
- **Principal Investigator:** Stuart Handwerger
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $229,565
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-04-01 → 1997-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197183

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197183, DECIDUAL PROLACTIN IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGIC PREGNANCIES (5R37HD015201-15). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197183. Licensed CC0.

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