Glucagon-like peptide-2 in umbilical cord blood from mature infants

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) seems to be a highly specific intestinotrophic mediator. From animal studies, GLP-2 is known to increase in the early neonatal period before it falls to adult level. No studies in newborn infants addressing this specific subject have been published so far.

To measure GLP-2 concentrations in umbilical cord blood from healthy mature infants and to assess any influence from the processes associated with spontaneous birth to GLP-2 production.

Twenty-one children delivered by elective cesarean section for maternal reasons and 18 children delivered spontaneously vaginally and without complications were included. Gestational age (GA) was median (range) 38.7 (40.7-37.1) weeks and 40.2 (41.9-38) weeks, and birth weight was median (range) 3,210 (4,820-2,100) g and 3,396 (4,225-3,050) g, respectively. The infants had no diagnosed diseases or malformations.

Umbilical cord blood was collected shortly after birth. Plasma was separated and GLP-2 immunoreactivity was measured with a specific NH(2)-terminal radioimmunoassay.

GLP-2 was detected in all samples. Mean values +/-SD were 16.7 +/- 3.9 pmol/l and range was 32-11 pmol/l, which is comparable to adult fasting levels. No significant correlation to birth weight (p = 0.087) or to cesarean section (p = 0.059) was found. In multiple linear regression analysis (GLP-2 vs. GA + cesarean section), neither vaginal delivery nor GA were statistically significantly related to the level of GLP-2 (p = 0.28 and 0.18), respectively.

GLP-2 is present in human cord blood by the time of birth. The level of GLP-2 is comparable to adult fasting levels. Spontaneous birth at most induces a minor increase in GLP-2 in term infants. In the narrow age interval studied, no significant effect of maturation was seen.