Serum growth hormone (HGH) levels were measured in 48 subjects during pregnancy with the use of a sensitive radioimmunoassay under conditions in which there was minimal interference from placental lactogen (HPL). The mean fasting, ambulatory serum HGH concentrations in the 3 trimesters of pregnancy are not significantly different from those of nonpregnant female subjects. HGH secretion is stimulated by insulin-induced hypoglycemia, labor and ambulation, but glucose administration failed to suppress the maternal HGH levels. HGH concentrations in cord sera are at least 3-fold greater than in the paired maternal sera. These observations indicate that serum HGH levels are within normal limits during pregnancy and that HGH is secreted in response to physiological stimuli.
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YEN et al. (1967) studied this question.