title: Assessment of endogenous nitric oxide formation in newborns: measurement of urinary nitrite and nitrate concentrations.
abstract: We measured the urinary nitrite and nitrate (NOx-) excretion, an index of endogenous nitric oxide formation, in term and preterm newborns on the 1st and 4th days of age. In the infants of both groups, the urinary NOx- excretion significantly increased from the 1st to the 4th day. The urinary NOx- excretion in preterm infants was significantly higher as compared with term babies on both days. Furthermore, the urinary NOx- excretion was significantly elevated in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome as compared with those without cardiopulmonary complications on the 4th day. These changes of urinary NOx- excretion in newborns strongly suggest the presence of an active physiological role for nitric oxide in the circulatory adaptation to extrauterine life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kotsuji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sudo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayumi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000652:urine*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide