luteotrophic, -tropic, a. Physiol.
(ˌl(j)uːtɪəʊˈtrəʊfɪk, -ˈtrəʊpɪk, -ˈtrɒpɪk)
[f. luteo- b + -trophic, -tropic.]
Maintaining or capable of maintaining the corpus luteum in being during pregnancy and thus counteracting luteolysis; luteotrop(h)ic hormone, such a hormone which in rats and mice is produced by the adenohypophysis and which is probably identical with the hormone prolactin of other animals, including man (though attempts to demonstrate that prolactin is luteotrophic in these other animals have failed) (abbrev. LTH (L 7)).
| 1941 E. B. Astwood in Endocrinology XXVIII. 310 In speaking of a substance which will maintain the functioning of formed corpora lutea it has been found convenient to use the term ‘luteotrophic’ substance or ‘luteotrophin’. 1955 Jrnl. Endocrinol. XIII. 19 Cutuly (1941) found that luteotrophic hormone stimulates corpora lutea of hypophysectomized rats sufficiently to allow implantation. 1961 Recent Progress Hormone Res. XVII. 120 The luteinizing hormone..may be luteotropic in animals other than rats and mice. 1964 H. H. Cole Gonadotropins i. 1 We know nothing of other possible pituitary luteotropic hormones. 1964 Endocrinology LXXV. 625/1 Such extracts have been shown to be luteotrophic in hypophysectomized rabbits. 1968 Passmore & Robson Compan. Med. Stud. I. xxxvii. 16/2 The factors which control the maintenance and regression of the corpus luteum are not understood, but during pregnancy a placental gonadotrophin exerts a powerful luteotrophic effect. |
Hence ˌluteoˈtrophin, -ˈtropin, any substance exerting a luteotrophic effect; spec. = luteotrop(h)ic hormone.
| 1941 [see luteotrophic a.]. 1945 Index-Catal. Library Surg.-General's Office, U.S. Army 4th Ser. IX. 1323/1 Luteotropin: see Pituitary hormone. 1961 Recent Progress Hormone Res. XVII. 120 LH may have the dual role of causing ovulation and of acting as a luteotropin. 1961 W. C. Young Sex & Internal Secretions (ed. 3) I. viii. 530/2 The term luteotrophin was proposed by Astwood (1941) to refer to a substance that maintains function of corpora lutea, in distinction to substances that cause them to form. It is now conceded that the substance described in that paper was probably the lactogenic hormone... Although lactogen seems to be the hypophyseal luteotrophin in rats, such is not necessarily true for all species... Nevertheless, the expression luteotrophin in the generic sense continues to be desirable. 1965 Endocrinology LXXVI. 1218/1 It therefore appears..that a hypophysial luteotropin is only necessary for a short period after ovulation. |