title: L-arginine pathway in neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the arginase, nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide pathways associated with passage of meconium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cord blood samples were collected from 20 newborns with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and from 23 newborns with clear amniotic fluid. Cord blood pH, arginase, nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide levels were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between the arginase and nitric oxide measurements of the newborns with MSAF and those with clear amniotic fluid were significant. In the MSAF group arginase levels were significantly lower (p=0.007) and nitric oxide levels were significantly higher (p=0.032) than the clear amniotic fluid group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoxia may be involved in the pathogenesis of meconium passage due to decreased arginase and increased nitric oxide levels.
authors.affiliation: Zekai Tahir Burak Women Education and Research Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey. drozlemgun@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ozlem Gun
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Eryilmaz
authors.forename: F Nur
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Aksakal
authors.forename: Nedim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.forename: Elif Gul
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Eyi
authors.forename: Aslihan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001119:Arginase / Q000097:blood; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D001119:Arginase