title: Changes in platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding post partum: possible relation to maternity blues.
abstract: Platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding characteristics were investigated in 28 healthy women during the peripartum period. The number of platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors fell after childbirth, corresponding to a fall in the circulating levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Two-thirds of the women had an episode of maternity blues. At 7-10 days post partum the platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor capacity in these subjects was significantly higher than in those women who did not show signs of maternity blues and significantly higher than a control group of normally menstruating women. We conclude that platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors may be affected by the circulating levels of endogenous oestrogen and progesterone and that a delayed or diminished fall in platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptor capacity after childbirth may be associated with the development of maternity blues.
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011374:Progesterone