人胎盤催乳素(hPL)被認爲起源於合胞體滋養層。超微結構定位表明，胎盤催乳素以小的不同形態的細胞質顆粒存在於這些細胞中，且從不同的激素來源如人類絨毛膜促性腺激素等有不同的分泌機制。妊娠後胎盤催乳素的表達水平會逐漸增加。常見用於絨癌、睾丸癌、乳腺癌和卵巢癌等研究。

參考文獻： 

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