Tryptophan availability and fetal behavioral states.
Behavioral state instability in growth-retarded fetuses might be related to a decrease in serotonine production. Tryptophan maternal and cord blood values after elective cesarean section have been investigated by means of high performance liquid chromatography in 20 growth-retarded fetuses due to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 20 normal pregnancies as control group. The feto-maternal ratio of tryptophan is significantly higher in normal fetuses than in PIH growth-retarded fetuses (p less than 0.001). Behavioral states have been determined 1 week and just before cesarean section. Values of 1F, 2F, 3F and 4F differ in the 2 groups (p less than 0.001). A higher percentage of non-coincidences (p less than 0.001) and state interruptions (p less than 0.001) is found in PIH fetuses. A significant correlation is demonstrated between the increase of non-coincidences and decrease in the feto-maternal Trp ratio (p less than 0.001).
Romanini
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University Ancona, Italy.
Valensise
H
H
Ciotti
G
G
Arduini
D
D
Giorgi
P
P
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan