Comment on "Maternal oxytocin triggers a transient inhibitory switch in GABA signaling in the fetal brain during delivery".
Tyzio et al. (Reports, 15 December 2006, p. 1788) reported that maternal oxytocin triggers a transient excitatory-to-inhibitory switch of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling during labor, thus protecting the fetal rat brain from anoxic injury. However, a body of evidence supports the possibility that oxytocin is released from the fetal pituitary during delivery, not only from the mother, particularly under conditions of hypoxic stress.
Carbillon
Lionel
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 13 University, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Avenue du 14 Juillet, 93143 Bondy Cedex, France. lionel.carbillon@jvr.aphp.fr
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D036801:Parturition; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D010121:Oxytocin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid