PROFILE OF STEROIDS IN AMNIOTIC FLUID OF NORMAL AND COMPLICATED PREGNANCIES

1968 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adolf E. Schindler ◽  
V. Ratanasopa
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Foetal Death ◽  
Rh Isoimmunization

ABSTRACT Methods for the determination of five steroids in amniotic fluid are described. The following steroids have been measured in amniotic fluid of 29 normal pregnancies: dehydroepiandrosterone, 11.1 μg/l; pregnanediol, 164.4 μg/l; 16-ketoandrostenediol, 214.7 μg/l; 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, 599.6 μg/ and oestriol, 674.3 μg/l. Analyses in eight pregnancies complicated by diabetes, polyhydramnios, anencephaly and severe Rh-isoimmunization reveal low or nondetectable amounts of oestriol, 16-ketoandrostenediol and 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, The concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnanediol appear not to be significantly influenced under these circumstances unless intrauterine foetal death has already occurred. This study seems to offer an explanation for the differences of oestriol concentrations in amniotic fluid, maternal plasma and urine in pregnancies complicated by severe Rh-isoimmunization.

Immunoreactive β-endorphin/lipotrophin in the chronically cannulated ovine foetus: response to bilateral foetal adrenalectomy

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Hennessy ◽  
K. J. Hardy ◽  
M. E. Quigley ◽  
E. Marelyn Wintour ◽  
S. S. C. Yen
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Feedback Systems ◽  
Foetal Death ◽  
Glucocorticoid Treatment ◽  
Feedback Control Systems

Abstract. Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) is derived from a 'stem' hormone of approximately 31 000 daltons. In man, cleavage of this hormone can produce equimolar amounts of ACTH and β-lipotrophin (β-LPH) in the plasma. Further cleavage of β-LPH in either the pituitary or plasma can release β-endorphin (β-EP). The plasma concentrations of both ACTH and β-EP can be increased by stressful stimuli, adrenalectomy, pituitary-adrenal disorders, or decreased with glucocorticoid treatment. This study investigated the presence of β-EP/LPH in the intact and adrenalectomized (adrX) ovine foetus. Three ovine foetuses were bilaterally adrX at the time of implantation of cannulae into the carotid artery and jugular vein (106–120 days gestation). The foetuses of 9 ewes were chronically cannulated (95–115 days gestation) to serve as controls. Gestation length was 147 ± 5 days. Plasma β-EP/LPH was measured using a heterologous modification of a human β-EP RIA. The assay system had molar cross-reactivity of about 20% with ovine β-LPH, thus results are expressed as β-EP/LPH-like immunoreactivity (IR-β-EP/LPH). In the intact unstressed foetus the plasma IR-β-EP/LPH concentration was relatively constant throughout gestation 228.9 ± 12.0 pg/ml (mean ± sem, n = 35) except for the last 48 h prior to either parturition, abortion or in utero foetal death when concentrations were seen to rise to 357 ± 56.8 pg/ml (n = 10) in 5 out of 6 sheep. During gestation the IR-β-EP/LPH in amniotic fluid was less than in foetal plasma the mean being 130.5 ± 14.8 (n = 10). IR-β-EP/LPH in maternal plasma was similar to that in foetal plasma. In the adrX foetus data has been arbitrarily divided into 3 age groups 90–121, 122–135 and > 136 days gestation, the IR-β-EP/LPH concentrations being 202.7 ± 16.3 (n = 9), 404.6 ± 54.8 (n = 13) and 2566 ± 681 (n = 5) pg/ml, respectively. The elevated IR-β-EP/LPH seen after 122 days does not appear to be reflected in either foetal urine or amniotic fluid. It can be suggested that the pituitary feedback systems controlling both IR-ACTH and IR-β-EP/LPH start to mature or change after 122 days gestation. In summary these findings show the presence of an immunoassayable substance with β-EP/LPH-like reactivity in the plasma of the ovine foetus, and that this IR-β-EP/LPH can often increase prior to parturition, abortion of foetal death. After 122 days gestation IR-β-EP/LPH increases in adrX foetuses, suggesting that after this time feedback control systems with some product of the foetal adrenal first begin to appear.

OESTRIOL CONJUGATES IN AMNIOTIC FLUID. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS, INCLUDING PRELIMINARY STUDIES IN Rh ISOIMMUNIZATION

1973 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Tikkanen ◽  
H. Adlercreutz
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Rh Isoimmunization ◽  
L 14

ABSTRACT In addition to oestriol-16-glucosiduronate (OE3-16Gl), oestriol-3-sulphate (OE3-3S) and oestriol-3-sulphate, 16-glucosiduronate (OE3-3S,16Gl), a fourth conjugate, oestriol-3-glucosiduronate (OE3-3Gl), was tentatively identified in human late pregnancy amniotic fluid. A method was developed for the determination of all four conjugates in amniotic fluid and analyses were carried out on 11 normal samples and on six samples obtained in pregnancies complicated by mild Rh isoimmunization. The concentrations and proportions of these oestriol conjugates in normal amniotic fluid were: OE3-16Gl: 847 μg/l (61 %), OE3-3S: 245 μg/l (16%), OE3-3S,16Gl: 195 μg/l (14%) and OE3-3Gl: 134 μg/l (9%). In mild Rh isoimmunization the pattern of oestriol conjugates did not differ significantly from normal.

PROSTAGLANDINS IN THE PLASMA AND AMNIOTIC FLUID OF RHESUS MONKEYS DURING PREGNANCY AND AFTER INTRA-UTERINE FOETAL DEATH

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. MITCHELL ◽  
J. E. PATRICK ◽  
J. S. ROBINSON ◽  
G. D. THORBURN ◽  
J. R. G. CHALLIS
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Foetal Death ◽  
Peripheral Vein ◽  
Normal Term ◽  
Prostaglandin F ◽  
Venous Plasma

SUMMARY Prostaglandin F (PGF) was measured in amniotic fluid, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α (PGFM) was measured in maternal peripheral venous plasma and amniotic fluid of rhesus monkeys during late pregnancy. 13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α was determined in the maternal peripheral venous plasma of two animals following intrauterine foetal death. The mean concentration of PGF and PGFM in amniotic fluid increased fourfold during the last 5 days of pregnancy. This increase was associated with an increase in the oestrone concentration in amniotic fluid and in maternal plasma. In normal pregnancy there was no increase in PGFM levels in the maternal peripheral vein, up to 1–2 days pre partum. After intra-uterine death, progesterone concentration in the maternal peripheral vein was unaltered, but oestrone and oestradiol declined. In plasma samples taken within 12 h of delivery, the concentration of PGFM was raised. It is concluded that an increase in prostaglandin production accompanies delivery at normal term, and at delivery past term following intra-uterine foetal death.

scholarly journals Maternal Plasma and Amniotic Fluid Chemokines Screening in Fetal Down Syndrome

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Laudanski ◽  
Monika Zbucka-Kretowska ◽  
Karol Charkiewicz ◽  
Slawomir Wolczynski ◽  
Daniela Wojcik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Simultaneous Determination ◽  
Biochemical Markers ◽  
Chromosomal Abnormalities ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Protein Macroarray

Objective. Chemokines exert different inflammatory responses which can potentially be related to certain fetal chromosomal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of selected chemokines in plasma and amniotic fluid of women with fetal Down syndrome.Method. Out of 171 amniocentesis, we had 7 patients with confirmed fetal Down syndrome (15th–18th weeks of gestation). For the purpose of our control, we chose 14 women without confirmed chromosomal aberration. To assess the concentration of chemokines in the blood plasma and amniotic fluid, we used a protein macroarray, which allows the simultaneous determination of 40 chemokines per sample.Results. We showed significant decrease in the concentration of 4 chemokines, HCC-4, IL-28A, IL-31, and MCP-2, and increase in the concentration of CXCL7 (NAP-2) in plasma of women with fetal Down syndrome. Furthermore, we showed decrease in concentration of 3 chemokines, ITAC, MCP-3, MIF, and increase in concentration of 4 chemokines, IP-10, MPIF-1, CXCL7, and 6Ckine, in amniotic fluid of women with fetal Down syndrome.Conclusion. On the basis of our findings, our hypothesis is that the chemokines may play role in the pathogenesis of Down syndrome. Defining their potential as biochemical markers of Down syndrome requires further investigation on larger group of patients.

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