Plasma concentrations of motilin and somatostatin are increased in late pregnancy and postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
To examine plasma levels of motilin and somatostatin throughout pregnancy.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
University Hospital, Norway.


METHODS
Eight healthy pregnant women (aged 24-38 years) six of them primigravidae and eight healthy non-pregnant women of similar age with ovulatory menstrual cycles.


METHODS
In the pregnant women blood samples were obtained at 4-week intervals from 8 weeks gestation throughout pregnancy and again at 5 days and 28 days postpartum. In the non-pregnant controls blood samples were obtained on cycle days 4, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21 and 24.


METHODS
Plasma levels of motilin and somatostatin.


RESULTS
Plasma concentrations of both motilin and somatostatin rose continuously during pregnancy, and motilin levels increased still further to a peak of 165.1 (SE 35.8) pmol/l at 5 days postpartum. Plasma motilin levels were significantly higher during the third trimester and at 5 days postpartum compared with non-pregnant controls (P less than 0.0001). The highest plasma somatostatin levels were found at 40 weeks gestation and at 5 days postpartum (mean 32.1 SE 1.1 pmol/l). Somatostatin levels were significantly higher during the second and third trimester and the postpartum period compared with levels in the follicular phase of the non-pregnant controls (P less than 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating levels of motilin cannot play a major role in the relaxation of the gut in pregnancy, but somatostatin may play a part in regulating motility.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
N
N
Holst
T G
TG
Jenssen
P G
PG
Burhol
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood*
D013004:Somatostatin; D009037:Motilin