title: Serum tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan at birth and during post-partum days.
abstract: Serum levels of tryptophan (Trp) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) were measured in the mother at birth, by normal delivery or cesarean section, on days 1 and 3 post-partum, and in the cord blood of the fetus-newborns. Decreases in Trp and 5-HTP levels during delivery were noted. Conversely, Trp levels in the cord blood of fetus-newborns were significantly higher than those of their mothers, and 5-HTP levels also showed a tendency to increase , whereas on day 1 post-partum Trp values were lower than those in fetal cord, but higher than those during spontaneous delivery. On day 3 post-partum, serum Trp levels were higher than those during spontaneous delivery, but similar to those on day 1. 5-HTP values tended to decrease with respect to those of day 1. Serum Trp and 5-HTP concentrations decreased significantly on day 1 post-partum after cesarean section, but increased on day 3, demonstrating that maternal Trp was being consumed during delivery. A major release of prolactin in serum on days 1 and 3 post-partum there was in women with normal delivery, revealing a correlation between Trp and prolactin in the first few days after birth, in relation to different conditions of delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carretti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertazzo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Comai
authors.forename: Carlo V L
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allegri
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000097:blood*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan