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Changes in Amino Acids and Nitric Oxide Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid During Labor Pain

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Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between amino acids and pain perception during active labor. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs)—glutamate, aspartate and their amide forms, inhibitory amino acids (IAAs)—glycine, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and taurine and nitric oxide (NO) related compounds—arginine and citrulline (by-product of NO synthesis) were compared between pregnant women at term pregnancy with labor pain (n = 38) and without labor pain (Caesarian section; n = 30). The levels of aspartate, glycine, GABA and citrulline were significantly higher; whilst taurine was significantly lower in the labor pain group. These findings suggest that aspartate and NO are associated with labor pain. An inhibitory role for the IAA taurine and a pronociceptive role for glycine in labor pain are proposed.

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Abbreviations

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

EAA:

Excitatory amino acids

GABA:

γ-Amino butyric acid

IAA:

Inhibitory amino acids

NMDA:

N-methyl-d-aspartate

NO:

Nitric oxide

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by National Medical Research Council of Singapore (NMRC grant No. 0678/2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesia, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore

    Rama Sethuraman, Tat-Leang Lee, Jen-Wun Chui & Shinro Tachibana

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  1. Rama Sethuraman
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  2. Tat-Leang Lee
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  4. Shinro Tachibana
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Correspondence to Shinro Tachibana.

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Sethuraman, R., Lee, TL., Chui, JW. et al. Changes in Amino Acids and Nitric Oxide Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid During Labor Pain. Neurochem Res 31, 1127–1133 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-006-9133-8

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