Perinatal changes of plasma resistin concentrations in pregnancies with normal and restricted fetal growth.
BACKGROUND
The adipocytokine resistin inhibits adipogenesis and induces insulin resistance. Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) neonates have reduced fat mass and changes of endocrine/metabolic mechanisms, predisposing to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in adult life.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate plasma resistin concentrations in maternal, fetal and neonatal samples from IUGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies and correlate them with respective insulin concentrations.


METHODS
Plasma resistin and insulin concentrations were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 IUGR and 20 AGA singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal day 1 (N1) and day 4 (N4).


RESULTS
No significant differences in resistin concentrations were observed between AGA and IUGR groups. In the AGA group, maternal resistin concentrations were significantly lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 ones (p = 0.003, p = 0.017 and p = 0.039, respectively). Maternal resistin concentrations positively correlated with fetal ones (r = 0.527, p = 0.02). In the IUGR group, maternal resistin concentrations were significantly lower compared to N1 (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with N4 concentrations (r = 0.626, p = 0.007). In both groups, the effect of gender, mode of delivery, parity and adjusted birth weight (customized centiles) on resistin concentrations was not significant. No correlation between resistin and insulin concentrations was documented.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of difference in resistin concentrations between IUGR and AGA groups, and lack of correlation between resistin and insulin concentrations as well as customized centiles, possibly suggests that resistin may not be directly involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis in the perinatal period. Mode of delivery and parity are not associated with circulating resistin concentrations.
Briana
Despina D
DD
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Boutsikou
Maria
M
Baka
Stavroula
S
Gourgiotis
Demetrios
D
Marmarinos
Antonios
A
Hassiakos
Demetrios
D
Malamitsi-Puchner
Ariadne
A
D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D007328:Insulin; D052243:Resistin