title: The effect of the mode of delivery on maternal-neonatal interleukin-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid concentrations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biogenic amine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) levels are related to interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma concentrations and endurance exercise. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the mode of delivery on maternal-neonatal IL-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Some women with normal pregnancy (n=56) were divided into two groups: group A (n=26) with normal labor and vaginal delivery, and group B (n=30) with scheduled cesarean section. Blood was obtained from the mothers at the beginning of labor and immediately after delivery (pre- vs. post-delivery), as well as from the umbilical cord (CB). Total antioxidant status (TAS) and IL-6 levels were measured with commercial kits, the precursor amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan with tandem mass spectrometry and the biogenic amine blood levels with HPLC methods, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TAS, IL-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid blood levels were similar in the two groups of mothers pre-delivery. TAS levels were reduced, whereas the amino acids, the catecholamine, 5-HT and IL-6 levels were increased post-delivery and in the CB of group A and unaltered in group B at the same time of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During a vaginal delivery process, the low TAS, the increased levels of the studied amino acids, the catecholamines, 5-HT and IL-6 may be due to the activation of the neuroendocrine system and the participation of skeletal and uterine muscles. The mode of delivery may be taken into account when IL-6 plasma levels are evaluated as an anti-inflammatory index perinatally.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, Research Center, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kleopatra H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schulpis
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Karikas
authors.forename: Evangelos D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsakiris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic / Q000097:blood*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009321:Natural Childbirth; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic; D000975:Antioxidants; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D002395:Catecholamines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D012701:Serotonin; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D014364:Tryptophan; D003402:Creatine Kinase