FUNCTIONS OF THE PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS DURING TH E NEONATAL PERIOD

概要

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Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations in umbilical vessels and neonates were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique. In normal pregnancy, the ACTH and cortisol concentrations in the umbilical artery were consistently higher than those in the umbilical vein. High concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were found in the umbilical artery of infants receiving various stresses such as forceps operation or vacuum exraction. On the other hand, in the absence of (or in the presence of minimal) stress such as elective cesarean section (C/S) bofore onset of labor, such hormone concentrations were significantly lower. Umbilical arterial ACTH levels in spontaneous vaginal delivery peaked at 26 to 29 weeks of gestation and thereafter decreased with gestational age. Cortisol concentrations, on the other hand, steadily increased with gestational age. In premature infants increasing ACTH concentrations were observed in the first 6 h after delivery, against the decreasing concentrations in mature infants. Post partum cortisol levels showed a rapid decrease in mature infants and a slow increase in premature infants. These differences were ascribed to the levels of maturation of the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis.
名古屋市立大学の論文
1982-11-12