Osteocalcin levels in maternal and cord blood.
OBJECTIVE
To measure osteocalcin levels in fetal and maternal blood.


METHODS
Osteocalcin was measured by radioimmunoassay in paired maternal and umbilical venous and arterial blood obtained at term deliveries.


RESULTS
Umbilical venous osteocalcin levels (mean +/- standard deviation) were significantly higher than arterial levels (10.28 +/- 4.99 versus 3.85 +/- 2.27 micrograms/L). Umbilical venous but not arterial levels of osteocalcin were significantly higher than maternal values (2.54 +/- 1.19 micrograms/L).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher osteocalcin levels in umbilical venous blood than in umbilical arterial blood suggest that the placenta may be the main source of osteocalcin in late fetal life.
Seki
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
Makimura
N
N
Mitsui
C
C
Nagata
I
I
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D015675:Osteocalcin