title: Determinants of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in umbilical cord and maternal serum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a fundamental role in brain development; additionally, it is involved in various aspects of cerebral function, including neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Involvement of BDNF in parturition has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to analyze determinants of umbilical cord BDNF (UC-BDNF) concentrations of healthy, term newborns and their respective mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional prospective study was performed at a tertiary referral center. Maternal venous blood samples were taken on admission to labor ward; newborn venous blood samples were drawn from the umbilical cord (UC), before delivery of the placenta. Analysis was performed with a commercially available immunoassay. Univariate analyses and stepwise multivariate regression models were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  120 patients were recruited. UC-BDNF levels were lower than maternal serum concentrations (median 641 ng/mL, IQR 506 vs. median 780 ng/mL, IQR 602). Correlation between UC- and maternal BDNF was low (R=0.251, p=0.01). In univariate analysis, mode of delivery (MoD), gestational age (GA), body mass index at delivery, and gestational diabetes were determinants of UC-BDNF (MoD and smoking for maternal BDNF, respectively). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed a model with MoD and GA as determinants for UC-BDNF (MoD for maternal BDNF).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MoD and GA at delivery are determinants of circulating BDNF in the mother and newborn. We hypothesize that BDNF, like other neuroendocrine factors, is involved in the neuroendocrine cascade of delivery. Timing and mode of delivery may exert BDNF-induced effects on the cerebral function of newborns and their mothers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Bonn Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flöck
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Bonn Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fietz
authors.affiliation: Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Bonn Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fimmers
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Bonn Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gembruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Bonn Medical School, Germany. Electronic address: waltraut.merz@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Merz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: BDNF; Delivery; Neurotrophin; Newborn; Pregnancy; Umbilical cord