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Relation between the birthweight and cord, maternal serum and amniotic fluid growth hormone levels
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Growth hormone (GH) levels in mothers, cords, and amniotic fluid did not significantly differ between infants of varying sizes. This suggests GH does not influence prenatal fetal growth.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Fetal Development
Background:
- Prenatal fetal somatic growth is a complex process influenced by various factors.
- The role of growth hormone (GH) in regulating fetal growth in utero remains incompletely understood.
- Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding GH's impact on fetal size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal, cord serum, and amniotic fluid GH levels and fetal size at term.
- To determine if GH levels correlate with infants classified as small, average, or large for gestational age.
- To elucidate the potential role of GH in prenatal fetal somatic growth.
Main Methods:
- Maternal serum, cord serum, and amniotic fluid samples were collected from 55 term pregnancies.
- Growth hormone (GH) levels were quantified in all collected samples.
- Infants were categorized into small, average, and large for gestational age groups based on birth weight.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in mean maternal serum GH levels across the three infant weight groups.
- Cord serum GH levels showed no significant variation between small, average, and large for gestational age infants.
- Amniotic fluid GH levels did not significantly differ among the studied infant weight categories.
Conclusions:
- The study concludes that maternal, cord, and amniotic fluid growth hormone (GH) levels do not appear to influence prenatal fetal somatic growth.
- These findings suggest that GH may not be a primary determinant of fetal size at term.
- Further research may be needed to explore other endocrine or paracrine factors involved in fetal growth regulation.
Abstract:
Maternal and cord serum and amniotic fluid growth hormone (GH) levels were measured in 55 term pregnancies in order to evaluate the role of GH in prenatal fetal somatic growth. The study group consisted of patients who had small, large, and average for gestational age infants. The difference in mean maternal and cord serum and amniotic fluid GH levels between the three weight groups were found to be insignificant. It is concluded that GH does not influence fetal somatic growth.