Fetal and maternal plasma levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin after vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section
Abstract
We measured the cord levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin with radioimmunoassay in plasma collected from the umbilical artery after vaginal delivery and after elective cesarean section. Maternal venous samples after the two labour modalities were also assayed for the same hormones. Fetal gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin levels were significantly higher after vaginal delivery than after elective cesarean section. Independently of labour type, the fetal gastrin and somatostatin levels were always higher than the maternal levels. We suggest that the observed high levels of gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin could be due to a stress-related stimulation of the oxytocin- as well as of the gastric gastrin- and somatostatin-producing cells, occurring particularly during vaginal delivery. The significant inverse correlation found between fetal pH and the recorded hormone levels is consistent with this hypothesis.
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When comparing birth types and measuring oxytocin levels immediately before delivery, vaginal births are associated with the highest level of maternal venous oxytocin concentrations whereas cesarean section births have the lowest levels; the same oxytocin patterns are observed in corresponding infants.
“For example, when comparing birth types and measuring oxytocin levels immediately before delivery, vaginal births are associated with the highest level of maternal venous oxytocin concentrations whereas cesarean section births have the lowest levels (Marchini et al., 1988; Moberg and Prime, 2013). The same oxytocin patterns (assessed via umbilical cord) are observed in corresponding infants.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Marchini et al., 1988
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- Authors
- Marchini, G., Lagercrantz, H., Winberg, J., & Uvnäs-Moberg, K.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Marchini, Giovanna
- ORCID
- Lagercrantz, Hugo
- Venue
- Early Human Development
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1988-11
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 73-79
- ISSN
- 0378-3782 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2002488259
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Early Human Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- gastrin, somatostatin, oxytocin, umbilical artery, vaginal delivery, elective cesarean section, fetal acid-base status, stress response
- MeSH terms
- Acid-Base Equilibrium, Cesarean Section, Female, Fetal Blood, Fetal Distress, Gastrins, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Labor, Obstetric, Male, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Oxytocin, Pregnancy, Radioimmunoassay, Somatostatin, Postpartum Period
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