人胎盘催乳素(hPL)被认为起源于合胞体滋养层。超微结构定位表明，胎盘催乳素以小的不同形态的细胞质颗粒存在于这些细胞中，且从不同的激素来源如人类绒毛膜促性腺激素等有不同的分泌机制。妊娠后胎盘催乳素的表达水平会逐渐增加。常见用于绒癌、睾丸癌、乳腺癌和卵巢癌等研究。

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