title: Serotonin metabolism in normal and abnormal infants during the perinatal period.
abstract: The concentration of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in various body fluids was measured during the perinatal period in two groups of infants born with normal and pathological conditions, respectively. Evidence was obtained showing that fetal blood 5-HT level was relatively stable, uninfluenced by maternal or fetal factors, and was about half the value of the maternal blood. High levels of 5-HIAA and evidence of an active decomposition of 5-HT were found in the amniotic fluid. These findings suggest that 5-HT in utero is subjected to a very active metabolic turnover. The origin of the fetal blood 5-HT and the significance of the placenta in the control of intrauterine 5-HT metabolism is discussed. There was no clear evidence of abnormal 5-HT metabolism in toxemic pregnancies, premature babies, and an infant with Down's syndrome in the perinatal period.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid