trophoblasts in vitro is inhibited by glucose in a dose-dependent

manner (Patel, 1995). Overexpression of hGH-V in mice

causes severe insulin resistance, and thus it is a likely candidate
to mediate insulin resistance of pregnancy (Barbour, 2002).
Hypothalamic-Like Releasing Hormones
The known hypothalamic-releasing or -inhibiting hormones
include GnRH, CRH, thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH),
growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and somatostatin.
For each, there is an analogous hormone produced in the
human placenta (Petraglia, 1992; Siler-Khodr, 1988). Many
investigators suggest this indicates a hierarchy of control in chorionic
trophic-agent synthesis.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone. There is a reasonably
large amount of immunoreactive GnRH in the placenta (Siler-
Khodr, 1978, 1988). Interestingly, it is found in cytotrophoblasts,
but not syncytiotrophoblast. Gibbons and coworkers
(1975) and Khodr and Siler-Khodr (1980) demonstrated that
the human placenta could synthesize both GnRH and TRH in
vitro. Placental-derived GnRH functions to regulate trophoblast
hCG production, hence the observation that GnRH levels
are higher early in pregnancy. Placental-derived GnRH is also
the likely cause of elevated maternal GnRH