Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity during labour in women.
Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was measured both in women during labour and postpartum periods and in their newborns in the umbilical cord blood and during the first days of the postnatal life. The maternal enzyme activity determined in three phases of labour and two postpartum periods was compared to that on the fourth day post partum (control level). As compared to the control level, a significant increase in the mean DBH activity was found in all phases of labour and during 10-15 min after delivery. The enzyme activity reached its highest value during delivery and 24 h after delivery it returned to the control level. The mean DBH activity of the umbilical cord plasma was significantly higher when compared with that determined in newborns at 24 h after birth. The latter remained essentially unchanged throughout the first three days of the postnatal life.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase