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Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration during the perinatal period.
- Source :
-
Neonatology [Neonatology] 2007; Vol. 92 (1), pp. 8-13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Jan 04. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Experimental and clinical evidence has been accumulated to indicate that elevated plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels can be regarded as a marker of endothelial dysfunction that mediates cardiovascular morbidity by impairing NO-dependent vascular reactions; therefore, it may have a role in the cardiopulmonary adaptation of the neonate. The present study was undertaken to investigate the perinatal NO metabolism by measuring L-arginine, the NO synthase substrate, ADMA, the endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase, and symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA), the biologically inactive L-arginine metabolite in umbilical venous and arterial plasma and in peripheral plasma of the neonate. Measurements were done in ten healthy pregnant women at term delivery and in their newborn infants on the second day of life by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. It was demonstrated that cord blood L-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA levels were markedly elevated with a moderate, but consistent veno-arterial difference suggesting that they are mainly generated by the placental endothelium. L-Arginine and ADMA levels were found to fall significantly (p < 0.001) by the second postnatal day, whereas SDMA remained unaltered. This finding indicates accelerated enzymatic ADMA elimination and reduction in the inhibition of NO-synthase activity. It is concluded that ADMA may play a role in the control of feto-placental circulation and the circulatory adaptation of the neonate.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Arginine blood
Blood Circulation physiology
Endothelium, Vascular physiology
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn physiology
Nitric Oxide metabolism
Nitric Oxide Synthase antagonists & inhibitors
Placental Circulation physiology
Pregnancy
Arginine analogs & derivatives
Infant, Newborn blood
Nitric Oxide Synthase metabolism
Postpartum Period blood
Pregnancy Trimester, Third blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1661-7800
- Volume :
- 92
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neonatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17596731
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000098411