title: Tryptophan availability and fetal behavioral states.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romanini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valensise
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciotti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giorgi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan