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Catecholamines in Experimentally Growth‐Retarded Rat Fetus
Author(s) -
Hiraoka Takanori,
Kudo Takafumi,
Kishimoto Yasuo
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
asia‐oceania journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 0389-2328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1991.tb00284.x
Subject(s) - epinephrine , fetus , medicine , endocrinology , norepinephrine , phenylethanolamine , dopamine , catecholamine , adrenal gland , gestation , amniotic fluid , biology , pregnancy , tyrosine hydroxylase , genetics
This study was designed to evaluate the sympathoadrenal system in rat IUGR fetuses prepared by the Wigglesworth method. Samples were obtained on day 20 of gestation. In the amniotic fluid, concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and particularly epinephrine (E) were significantly higher in IUGR fetuses than in normally developed fetuses (NE: p<0.05, E: p<0.01). L ‐Dopa and three catecholamines in the adrenal glands were decreased in IUGR fetuses. The mol ratios ( L ‐dopa: dopamine: NE: E) were 1: 4: 35: 63 in IUGR fetuses and 1: 5: 39: 87 in normal fetuses. The ratio for epinephrine to L ‐dopa was significantly lower in IUGR fetuses (p<0.05). Adrenal phenylethanolamine‐ N ‐methyltransferase activities showed no difference between the two groups. From these results, adrenal epinephrine synthesis in IUGR fetuses was thought to be normal. Because of the depletion of adrenal epinephrine in IUGR fetuses, the plasma epinephrine concentrations were significantly lower after acute hemorrhagic shock (p<0.01). However, the plasma concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine were significantly higher (dopamine: p<0.01, NE: p<0.001) in IUGR fetuses. These findings suggest that the hypersecretion of adrenal epinephrine is a protective response to chronic stress and the decrease of adrenal epinephrine may be a causative factor for the reduced reserves in the defense mechanism of IUGR fetuses.