Placental lactogen, also referred to as chorionic somatomammotropin, is a polypeptidehormone, produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It influences the metabolic processes of both the mother and fetus, aiding in the growth and development of the fetus.[1] Classified within the somatotropin family, placental lactogen shares both structural and functional similarities to growth hormone and pituitary prolactin.[2] It has been identified in various mammals, including humans, monkeys, mice, cows, hamster, and sheep.[3] However, it has not been found in dogs and rabbits.[2]
Classification of placental lactogen across mammalian species
The initial placental lactogen-related proteins were identified in rodents[4] and are commonly categorized into two primary groups based on the timing of their secretion during pregnancy: those occurring during the mid-pregnancy stage, such as placental lactogen-I, and those occurring during the late-pregnancy stage, such as placental lactogen-II.[3] Similarly, bovine placental lactogen exhibits diversity, through its molecular forms rather than secretion timing, with multiple isoforms differing in molecular weight and charge due to variations in glycosylation and truncated transcripts.[2] While there are many shared characteristics, placental lactogen is synthesized by distinct trophoblast cell types. In sheep, for example, ovine placental lactogen is generated by binucleate cells.[5]
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