human chorionic somatomammotropin

hu·man pla·cen·tal lac·to·gen (HPL),

lactogen isolated from human placentas and structurally similar to somatotropin; its biologic activity weakly mimics that of somatotropin and prolactin; secreted into maternal circulation; a deficiency of HPL during pregnancy leads to children who undergo abnormal intrauterine and postnatal growth.

Synonym(s): choriomammotropin, chorionic "growth hormone-prolactin", human chorionic somatomammotropic hormone, human chorionic somatomammotropin, placenta protein, placental growth hormone, purified placental protein

human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS)

a hormone produced by the syncytiotrophoblast during pregnancy. It regulates carbohydrate and protein metabolism of the mother to ensure delivery to the fetus of glucose for energy and protein for fetal growth. HCS, an insulin antagonist, also may have a diabetogenic effect in the mother, who therefore may have an increased blood glucose level. Also called chorionic growth hormone-prolactin, placental lactogen.