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Endothelin-3 and PRL levels in the maternal and fetal circulation at delivery

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Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that endothelin-3 (ET-3) is involved in PRL secretion via systemic hormonal interaction during labor. Materials and methods: Fifty healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were included in the present study. At delivery, blood samples were drawn from umbilical vein and artery. At the same time, a blood sample was obtained from a peripheral vein of the mother. In all blood samples, plasma ET-3 and serum PRL concentrations were determined. The main outcome measures were the differences between maternal peripheral blood, umbilical artery and vein in terms of ET-3 and PRL levels, and the associations between ET-3 and PRL levels. Results: ET-3 values (mean±SEM) in umbilical artery did not differ significantly from those in umbilical vein (4.94±0.27 vs 5.05±0.32 pg/ml) but were in both vessels significantly higher than in maternal vein (1.14±0.56 pg/ml, p<0.001 ). Serum PRL values showed similar patterns. There was a significant positive correlation of the ET-3 levels between umbilical artery and vein (r=0.906, p<0.001), but not between maternal peripheral venous blood and the umbilical vessels. Similar correlations were found for PRL values. However, no significant correlations were found between ET-3 and PRL levels in all vessels studied. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates for the first time that ET-3 levels are higher in fetal than in maternal circulation at term. The lack of correlation between ET-3 and PRL levels suggests that ET-3 does not play an important endocrine role in the control of maternal and fetal PRL secretion during labor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Thessalia, 22 Papakiriazi street, 41222, Larissa, Greece

    K. Dafopoulos, A. Boli, A. Kallitsaris & I. E. Messinis MD, PhD

  2. Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Athens

    A. Malamitsi-Puchner

  3. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    G. Kollios

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  1. K. Dafopoulos
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  2. A. Boli
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  3. A. Kallitsaris
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  6. I. E. Messinis MD, PhD
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Correspondence to I. E. Messinis MD, PhD.

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Dafopoulos, K., Boli, A., Kallitsaris, A. et al. Endothelin-3 and PRL levels in the maternal and fetal circulation at delivery. J Endocrinol Invest 30, 41–45 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347394

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