title: The perinatal transition of the circulating metabolome in a nonhuman primate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fetal-to-neonatal transition is one of the most complex processes in biological existence; much is unknown about this transition on the molecular and biochemical level. Based on growing metabolomics literature, we hypothesize that metabolomic analysis will reveal the key biochemical intermediates that change during the birth transition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS), we identified 100 metabolites that changed during this transition. Of these 100 metabolites, 23 demonstrated significant change during the first 72 h. Of note, four intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were identified (α-ketoglutaric acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, and succinyl-CoA), demonstrating a consistent rate of rise during the study. This may signify the transition of the neonate from a hypoxic in utero environment to an oxygen-rich environment. Important signaling molecules were also identified, including myo-inositol and glutamic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GC × GC-TOFMS was able to identify important metabolites associated with metabolism and signaling. These data can be used as a baseline for normal birth transition, which may aid in future perinatal research investigations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Late-preterm Macaca nemestrina were delivered by hysterotomy, with plasma drawn from the cord blood and after birth at eight additional time points to 72 h of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Beckstrom
authors.forename: Pattaraporn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tanya
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Humston
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Synovec
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Juul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008254:Macaca nemestrina; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D055442:Metabolome; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D036801:Parturition; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen