Placenta
Volume 29, Supplement , Pages 36-41, March 2008

Placental Growth Hormone-Related Proteins and Prolactin-Related Proteins

  • D. Haig

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationTel.: +1 617 496 5125; fax: +1 617 495 5667.

Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Accepted 26 September 2007. published online 05 November 2007.

Abstract 

The placentas of ruminants and muroid rodents express prolactin (PRL)-related genes whereas the placentas of anthropoid primates express growth hormone (GH)-related genes. The evolution of placental expression is associated with accelerated evolution of the corresponding pituitary hormone and destabilization of conserved endocrine systems. In particular, placental hormones often evolve novel interactions with new receptors. The adaptive functions of some placental hormones may be revealed only under conditions of physiological stress.

Keywords: GH, PRL, Placenta, Endometrial glands, Placental lactogen

 

PII: S0143-4004(07)00247-0

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2007.09.010

Placenta
Volume 29, Supplement , Pages 36-41, March 2008

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