title: The varying patterns of neurotrophin changes in the perinatal period.
abstract: Neurotrophins (NTs), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT-3, and NT-4 are of major importance in prenatal and postnatal brain development, due to their neuroprotective action. Developmental changes alter the neuronal responsiveness to certain NTs, which subsequently are variously expressed, to properly balance their action. The following study aimed at examining the pattern of perinatal changes of the four NTs--NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4 in 30 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) full-term fetuses and neonates by determining their circulating levels at characteristic time points. This study show a gradual decrease of circulating levels of the NTs, NT-3 and NT-4 from umbilical cord (UC) to neonates day 4 (N4), while circulating levels of NGF and BDNF present the opposite pattern: an increase from UC to N4. These patterns of perinatal changes differ according to their impact on the process of neuronal development and their reaction to perinatal stress. NT3 and NT4 have been documented to act at early stages of neuronal development and to decrease after hypoxia-ischemia, while NGF and BDNF to increase. Further studies should investigate these patterns in premature or full-term infants, presenting various pathological conditions in the perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Division, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, 19, Soultani Street, GR-10682 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: K-P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Puchner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; C073922:neurotrophin 4