LEVELS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-BINDING PROTEIN-2 AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-II IN MATERNAL SERUM, AMNIOTIC-FLUID AND EXTRAEMBRYONIC CELOMIC FLUID AT 9-20 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFB P-2) were measured in amniotic fluid, extraembryonic fluid and materna l serum from 20 women with apparently normal first trimester pregnanci es prior to termination. A further 111 specimens of amniotic fluid wer e collected from women at 10-20 weeks of pregnancy. Levels of IGFBP-2 were similar in coelomic fluid and maternal serum. Levels in amniotic fluid were lower than those in serum and coelomic fluid (Mann-Whitney test; P=0.0002 and P<0.0001 respectively). The levels of IGF-II were m uch higher in maternal serum than in coelomic fluid, and higher in the latter than in amniotic fluid (Mann-Whitney test; P<0.0001 for both s ituations). The levels of IGFBP-2 were relatively low at 10-11 weeks ( medians 19.8 and 61.1 mu g/l) but thereafter increased to 20 weeks (me dian 1400 mu g/l). The levels of IGF-II showed a similar pattern. The findings suggest that the role ofIGF-II and IGFBP-2 in the regulation of growth or differentiation of the fetus or of its surrounding membra nes may change with advancing pregnancy.