title: Response of plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin and corticotropin to isometric exercise in uncomplicated pregnancy and in pregnancy-induced hypertension.
abstract: The response of plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir-beta E) and corticotropin to isometric exercise was studied in 10 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and in nine healthy women subjected to a handgrip test in the third trimester of gestation. The mean basal concentration of corticotropin was higher in the PIH than in the control group, 3.8 +/- 0.3 (SE) pmol/l and 2.2 +/- 0.2 pmol/l, respectively (p = 0.002). No significant difference was found in the basal ir-beta E level, 6.9 +/- 0.9 pmol/l and 6.1 +/- 1.0 pmol/l, respectively. In response to the handgrip test, the corticotropin and ir-beta E concentrations rose significantly in all subjects (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively) without any significant differences between the groups. These findings indicate that an isometric exercise is sufficient to increase the secretion of ir-beta E and corticotropin during pregnancy. Increased basal concentration of corticotropin in women with PIH may be explained by significantly increased circulating corticotropin-releasing hormone, 1451 +/- 323 pmol/l, as compared to 528 +/- 190 pmol/l in the control group.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Räisänen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone