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Elevated plasma peptide YY in human neonates and infants
Insights
Neonatal peptide YY (PYY) levels are high at birth and surge postnatally, aiding adaptation to extrauterine life and enteral nutrition. PYY may be a crucial gut hormone for newborn development.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Peptide YY (PYY) is a gut hormone with known effects on gastrointestinal function.
- Understanding PYY's role in neonates is crucial for infant nutrition and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma concentrations and molecular forms of PYY in preterm neonates.
- To explore the potential role of PYY in neonatal adaptation to extrauterine life and enteral feeding.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of plasma PYY concentrations in cord blood and at various postnatal days in preterm neonates.
- Comparison of PYY levels with full-term neonates and older infants.
- Gel permeation chromatography to analyze circulating PYY molecular forms.
Main Results:
- Plasma PYY concentrations were significantly higher in cord blood of neonates compared to adults.
- PYY levels surged postnatally in preterm infants, peaking around 12 days of life.
- The primary circulating form of PYY in neonates was the mature 36 amino acid peptide, with evidence of larger precursor molecules.
Conclusions:
- The postnatal surge of PYY in preterm neonates suggests its importance in early adaptation to extrauterine life.
- PYY may play a significant role in facilitating adaptation to enteral nutrition in newborns.
- Further research into PYY's function could inform strategies for neonatal nutritional support.
Abstract:
Plasma concentrations of peptide YY (PYY) were measured in cord blood and at 6, 12, and 18 days of postnatal life in 24 healthy preterm neonates, from cord blood of eight full-term neonates, and from peripheral blood of 13 infants 9 months old. Concentrations were high in cord blood (73 +/- 9 pmol/liter versus adult fasting 10.4 +/- 1.3, p less than 0.001) and rose postnatally in the premature infants to 399 +/- 48 pmol/liter at 6 days, 489 +/- 42 at 12 days, and fell to 414 +/- 43 at 18 days. Plasma PYY concentrations were much lower in infants 9 months old (32 +/- 3 pmol/liter), suggesting that the postnatal surge of plasma PYY is a feature of early adaptation to extrauterine life. Gel permeation chromatograms revealed that the major circulating form of PYY in the neonate eluted in a position identical to that of the pure 36 amino acid peptide. There was, however, evidence of two larger molecular forms that may be precursor molecules. Because PYY is a peptide that exhibits potent effects on gastrointestinal secretion and motility in humans, these observations suggest that this candidate gut hormone may be important in the adaptation to enteral nutrition in the neonate.