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Correlation between plasma neurotransmitters and memory loss in pregnancy
Dhanashri N Shetty1, Shubhangi S Pathak
1Department of Biochemistry, L.T.M. Medical College, Sion, 508/B, Rajdeep, Opp. Sheetal Cinema, L.B.S. Marg, Kurla, Mumbai-400070, India.
The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|July 3, 2002
Summary
Pregnancy is linked to lower levels of key neurotransmitters like epinephrine and serotonin, and a decline in functional memory. These changes suggest a connection between neurotransmitter levels and memory loss during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Obstetrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Pregnancy involves significant physiological changes that can affect brain function.
- Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in cognitive processes, including memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma neurotransmitter levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine) and functional memory in healthy pregnant women.
- To compare neurotransmitter levels and memory function between pregnant women and nonpregnant controls.
Main Methods:
- Fifty healthy pregnant women were studied across three trimesters, with nonpregnant women as controls.
- Plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Functional memory was assessed and correlated with neurotransmitter levels in each trimester.
Main Results:
- Pregnant women exhibited significantly decreased plasma levels of epinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine compared to controls.
- A significant increase in plasma norepinephrine was observed in pregnant women across all trimesters.
- Functional memory was significantly reduced in healthy pregnant women relative to nonpregnant controls.
Conclusions:
- Reduced plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the second trimester of pregnancy correlate with diminished functional memory.
- These findings suggest that alterations in plasma neurotransmitter concentrations may contribute to memory impairment during pregnancy.