title: The oxytocin-CD38-vitamin A axis in pregnant women involves both hypothalamic and placental regulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxytocin, a hypothalamic hormone secreted upon release of ectoenzyme CD38, plays a vital role in interpersonal bonding behaviors. Reduced plasma oxytocin characterizes autistic individuals. CD38 levels, which were found to be low in LBCs derived from autistic patients, is upregulated upon the addition of a vitamin A derivative. During pregnancy, oxytocin is also secreted by placenta. Recent controversial studies have suggested an increased risk for autism when oxytocin is used during induction and augmentation of labor. We aimed to examine the tripartite relationship between oxytocin, CD38 and vitamin A in pregnant women and their newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one healthy expectant mothers were enlisted for this study. Levels of oxytocin, CD38 and ATRA were measured in both maternal peripheral and newborn cord blood, and the tripartite relationship between these parameters examined. Estrogen and progesterone levels of the mothers were also recorded. Several clinical measures were also noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean maternal oxytocin and vitamin A levels were approximately 8- and 4-fold higher, respectively, than neonatal levels. CD38 expression, however, was 9 times higher in neonates than in the maternal group. Positive correlation was found between maternal and cord blood for both oxytocin and CD38.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This establishment of normative values for oxytocin, CD38 and vitamin A in healthy pregnant women and newborns may serve as a reference in the investigation of developing pathologies of disorders such as autism.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center , Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem , Israel .
authors.forename: Moriya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gamliel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center , Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem , Israel .
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , National University of Singapore , Singapore , and.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ebstein
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem , Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yirmiya
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center , Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem , Israel .
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mankuta
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D010121:Oxytocin; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1
keywords: Autism; CD38; oxtyocin; pregnancy; vitamin A