Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
14:19

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Published on: June 29, 2013

Growth hormone in intra-uterine growth retarded newborns

Sajita Setia1, M G Sridhar, Vishnu Bhat

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India. saj_setiya@yahoo.co.in

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|December 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) newborns exhibit elevated growth hormone levels at birth. These hormone levels correlate more strongly with ponderal index than with birth weight in IUGR infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Growth Disorders

Background:

  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a significant concern in neonatal health.
  • Understanding hormonal profiles in IUGR is crucial for assessing fetal development.
  • Growth hormone (GH) plays a key role in fetal and postnatal growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate growth hormone (GH) levels in newborns with IUGR compared to healthy controls.
  • To examine the association between GH levels and anthropometric measurements like birth weight and ponderal index in IUGR infants.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 50 term newborns diagnosed with IUGR and 50 healthy term newborns.
  • Cord blood samples were collected at delivery for GH level analysis.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to compare GH levels and assess correlations.

Main Results:

  • IUGR newborns demonstrated significantly higher GH levels than healthy controls (23.5 ± 15.6 ng/mL vs. 16.2 ± 7.61 ng/mL, P = 0.019).
  • A significant negative correlation was observed between GH levels and birth weight (r² = -0.22, P = 0.03).
  • GH levels showed a stronger negative correlation with ponderal index (r² = -0.36, P = 0.008) compared to birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Newborns with IUGR present with elevated GH levels at birth.
  • Growth hormone levels in IUGR infants correlate more robustly with ponderal index than with birth weight.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for GH dysregulation in the pathophysiology of IUGR and its anthropometric consequences.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays11:17

Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays

Published on: January 7, 2016

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
Major Hormones and Their Functions01:27

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Hormones of the Pituitary Gland01:27

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...