Martin R H, Glass M R, Chapman C, Wilson G D, Woods K L
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1980 Sep;13(3):223-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1980.tb01046.x.
Serum alpha-lactalbumin was monitored throughout pregnancy in twelve women and in a separate group of nineteen women during the first 3 months postpartum. During pregnancy alpha-lactalbumin rose significantly until the mid trimester (P less than 0.001). From then until term, concentrations remained stable. Concentrations during labour were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than those seen at term. alpha-lactalbumin, 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone concentrations behaved similarly during the first week of the puerperium in both lactating (n = 10) and non-lactating (n = 9) subjects. A large surge of alpha-lactalbumin closely followed the clearance of high circulating concentrations of sex steroids in both groups. Prolactin concentrations were significantly greater (P less than 0.02) in lactating subjects by the third postpartum day. By the third postpartum week alpha-lactalbumin concentrations in lactating subjects had stabilized at labour levels in a milieu of high prolactin levels and depressed production on 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone. Conversely, in non-lactating subjects alpha-lactalbumin concentrations fell, as did prolactin, coincidental with a rise in 17 beta-oestradiol, progesterone concentrations remaining barely detectable. The apparent control mechanisms for human alpha-lactalbumin secretion and thus, lactation, are discussed in the light of the data presented.
在12名女性的整个孕期以及另一组19名女性产后的前3个月监测血清α-乳白蛋白。孕期α-乳白蛋白显著上升，直至孕中期（P<0.001）。从那时起直至足月，其浓度保持稳定。分娩时的浓度显著高于足月时（P<0.01）。在产后第一周，无论是哺乳期（n = 10）还是非哺乳期（n = 9）的受试者，α-乳白蛋白、17β-雌二醇和孕酮的浓度变化相似。两组中，高循环浓度的性类固醇清除后，α-乳白蛋白均大幅激增。产后第三天，哺乳期受试者的催乳素浓度显著更高（P<0.02）。到产后第三周，哺乳期受试者的α-乳白蛋白浓度在高催乳素水平以及17β-雌二醇和孕酮分泌受抑制的环境中稳定在分娩时的水平。相反，在非哺乳期受试者中，α-乳白蛋白浓度下降，催乳素也下降，同时17β-雌二醇上升，孕酮浓度几乎检测不到。根据所呈现的数据，讨论了人类α-乳白蛋白分泌以及泌乳的表观控制机制。
