Räisänen I
Department I of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1988 Jan;27(1):13-20. doi: 10.1016/s0028-2243(88)80005-4.
Using a specific radioimmunoassay the concentrations of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin in maternal plasma were studied during pregnancy and in the early puerperium. Compared with the values in nonpregnant women, levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin were slightly lower in the first and second trimesters; corticotropin showed no difference in the first trimester. The concentrations of all these peptides increased towards term, most markedly in the case of corticotropin. The diurnal variation was studied near term and again in the early puerperium. beta-Endorphin and corticotropin showed a parallel diurnal variation. The values in the morning and during the day were slightly higher during pregnancy than in the puerperium, whereas the values at midnight were similar. After vaginal delivery, a rapid and parallel decrease in the plasma levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin was found. In elective cesarean section, the values were highest 30 min after delivery, reflecting surgical stress, and then the decrease was similar to that after vaginal delivery. Thus parallel changes in the plasma levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin during pregnancy and in the early puerperium were found, which can be explained by their origin from a common precursor peptide, pro-opiomelanocortin. The rise in the plasma levels of corticotropin and endorphins near term and the exaggerated diurnal variation is probably a reflection of a maternal adaptation to stress.
采用特定的放射免疫分析法，对孕期及产褥早期母体血浆中β-内啡肽、β-促脂素和促肾上腺皮质激素的浓度进行了研究。与未怀孕女性的值相比，孕早期和孕中期β-内啡肽和β-促脂素的水平略低；促肾上腺皮质激素在孕早期无差异。所有这些肽的浓度在接近足月时升高，促肾上腺皮质激素升高最为明显。在接近足月时及产褥早期再次研究了昼夜变化。β-内啡肽和促肾上腺皮质激素呈现平行的昼夜变化。孕期早晨和白天的值略高于产褥期，而午夜的值相似。经阴道分娩后，发现血浆中β-内啡肽、β-促脂素和促肾上腺皮质激素水平迅速且平行下降。在择期剖宫产中，产后30分钟时值最高，反映了手术应激，然后下降情况与经阴道分娩后相似。因此，发现孕期及产褥早期血浆中β-内啡肽、β-促脂素和促肾上腺皮质激素水平存在平行变化，这可以用它们源自共同的前体肽——阿黑皮素原（pro-opiomelanocortin）来解释。接近足月时促肾上腺皮质激素和内啡肽血浆水平的升高以及昼夜变化加剧可能反映了母体对压力的适应。
