Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
11:36

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood

Published on: April 28, 2016

9.9K

Cord ghrelin levels are decreased in large-for-gestational-age neonates

H Ding1, Y Pan, Y Yu

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China.

Clinical Obesity
|January 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates exhibit lower cord ghrelin levels. Cord ghrelin concentrations correlate negatively with birth weight and positively with maternal ghrelin levels.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Neonatal Metabolism
  • Growth Factors

Background:

  • Ghrelin, a growth hormone secretagogue peptide, is recognized as an orexigenic factor.
  • Investigating neonatal ghrelin levels is crucial for understanding fetal growth and metabolic programming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between cord ghrelin levels and anthropometric and metabolic indices in neonates.
  • To compare cord ghrelin concentrations in large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonates.
  • To assess correlations between cord ghrelin, cord blood metabolic markers, and maternal ghrelin levels.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of plasma ghrelin concentrations in cord blood of 55 term singleton neonates and their mothers.
  • Analysis of cord blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL-cholesterol.
  • Correlation and multivariate regression analyses to identify predictors of cord ghrelin levels.

Main Results:

  • Cord ghrelin concentrations were significantly lower in LGA neonates compared to AGA neonates.
  • Positive correlation observed between cord ghrelin and maternal ghrelin levels.
  • Negative correlations found between cord ghrelin and gestational age, cord glucose, insulin, TG, and LDL-C.
  • Multivariate regression identified birth weight as a significant predictor of cord ghrelin levels (r² = 0.674, β = -0.548, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • LGA neonates demonstrate reduced cord ghrelin concentrations.
  • Cord ghrelin levels are associated with neonatal size, maternal ghrelin, and specific metabolic parameters.
  • Findings suggest a potential role for ghrelin in regulating fetal growth and metabolic adaptation at birth.

Keywords:
GhrelinLGAtriglycerideumbilical cord

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

17.3K
Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice10:28

Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice

Published on: May 24, 2018

16.6K

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
3.2K
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...
1.4K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
513