title: [Endogenous opioid peptides in cattle during pregnancy, birth and the newborn period].
abstract: The concentrations of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin in plasma were investigated in cows in different stages of gestation, during parturition and in the early postpartum period as well as in their newborn calves. Plasma beta-endorphin concentrations were low in the early stages of pregnancy. In the last month of gestation beta-endorphin levels almost as high as during parturition were found. Therefore in cattle the antepartum increase in plasma beta-endorphin concentration is not linked to the onset of labour. Met-enkephalin levels in plasma of calving cows were higher than those in cows in the last month of gestation. For met-enkephalin a relation to the stress of parturition is more likely than for beta-endorphin. In conjunction with a cesarean section the concentrations of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin in plasma increased during surgery. This increase is likely to be caused by surgery-related stress. Calves showed highest beta-endorphin concentrations immediately after delivery. One hour post natum beta-endorphin levels were markedly decreased and showed only minor changes thereafter. In calves born at term highest met-enkephalin concentrations were found immediately post natum with levels decreasing continuously over the first two days of life. Preterm calves showed lower met-enkephalin concentrations in plasma than those born at term. During the first hour post natum in preterm animals met-enkephalin levels in plasma even increased. A highly significant correlation existed between met-enkephalin levels and the degree of acidosis in calves. An antagonism between endogenous opioids and catecholamines in newborns is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie des Rindes Im Richard-Götze-Haus, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dobrinski
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Aurich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grunert
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Hoppen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins
vernacular_title: Endogene opioide Peptide beim Rind während Trächtigkeit, Geburt und Neugeborenenphase.