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[Regulatory peptides and psychomotor development in infants]

O Iu Sokolov, N V Kost, O B Kurasova

    Vestnik Rossiiskoi Akademii Meditsinskikh Nauk
    |May 16, 2007
    PubMed

    Insights

    Exogenous regulatory peptides (casomorphins) and enzyme activity in infant serum correlate with psychomotor development (PMD). This study explores their role in infant development and autism pathogenesis.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Pediatrics
    • Developmental Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Regulatory peptides (RP) are crucial for homeostasis, with maternal and placental sources during prenatal development.
    • Both endogenous and exogenous RP significantly influence the early postnatal period.
    • Exogenous RP, such as casomorphins, and their metabolism are key factors in infant physiology.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To quantify exogenous RP (casomorphins-7) and peptidase activity in infant serum.
    • To investigate the relationship between casomorphins, peptidase activity, and infant psychomotor development (PMD).
    • To explore the implications for normal PMD and early childhood autism.

    Main Methods:

    • Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure human and bovine casomorphins immunoreactivity (CMir) in infant serum.
    • Enkephalinase activity, a peptidase degrading RP, was assessed.
    • Correlation analyses were performed between CMir, enzyme activity, and PMD metrics.

    Main Results:

    • A significant correlation was found between casomorphins immunoreactivity (CMir) levels and infant psychomotor development (PMD).
    • The activity of RP-degrading serum enzymes also demonstrated a correlation with the level of PMD.
    • Differences in CMir and enzyme activity were observed between breastfed and bottle-fed infants (implied, not explicitly stated).

    Conclusions:

    • Both endogenous and exogenous peptides play a role in the normal psychomotor development of infants.
    • Alterations in peptide levels and metabolism may be implicated in the pathogenesis of early childhood autism.
    • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking peptides to neurodevelopmental outcomes.

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