Serum elastase inhibitor levels in pregnancy and under endocrine influences

Abstract

Serum elastase inhibitor is significantly elevated during pregnancy both in the human and in the rat, but not in the rabbit. In humans the change is progressive, reaching an average value by parturition of three times the value for nonpregnant women or for 6 weeks postpartum women. Injection of ACTH, progesterone, and estrogen separately into nonpregnant female rats failed to produce significant or corresponding alterations in serum elastase inhibitor levels in these animals. Submitted on July 5, 1960