The influence of maternal somatostatin administration on fetal brain cell proliferation and its relationship to serum gorwth hormone and brain trophin activity.

The effect of maternal somatostatin administration from days 14 to 20 of gestation was examined. Fetal body growth was unchanged but brain cell DNA synthesis per gram of tissue decreased. Maternal serum levels of growth hormone and brain trophin were elevated following treatment conclusion. It was suggested that this was a rebound phenomenon and that short term blockade of pituitary growth hormone release during somatostatin treatment had impaired fetal brain cell DNA synthesis.