Biomaterial Database

Plasma levels and diurnal variation of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin during pregnancy and early puerperium. 1988

I Räisänen

Department I of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.

Using a specific radioimmunoassay the concentrations of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin in maternal plasma were studied during pregnancy and in the early puerperium. Compared with the values in nonpregnant women, levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin were slightly lower in the first and second trimesters; corticotropin showed no difference in the first trimester. The concentrations of all these peptides increased towards term, most markedly in the case of corticotropin. The diurnal variation was studied near term and again in the early puerperium. beta-Endorphin and corticotropin showed a parallel diurnal variation. The values in the morning and during the day were slightly higher during pregnancy than in the puerperium, whereas the values at midnight were similar. After vaginal delivery, a rapid and parallel decrease in the plasma levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin was found. In elective cesarean section, the values were highest 30 min after delivery, reflecting surgical stress, and then the decrease was similar to that after vaginal delivery. Thus parallel changes in the plasma levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and corticotropin during pregnancy and in the early puerperium were found, which can be explained by their origin from a common precursor peptide, pro-opiomelanocortin. The rise in the plasma levels of corticotropin and endorphins near term and the exaggerated diurnal variation is probably a reflection of a maternal adaptation to stress.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008077	Lipoproteins, LDL	A class of lipoproteins of small size (18-25 nm) and light (1.019-1.063 g/ml) particles with a core composed mainly of CHOLESTEROL ESTERS and smaller amounts of TRIGLYCERIDES. The surface monolayer consists mostly of PHOSPHOLIPIDS, a single copy of APOLIPOPROTEIN B-100, and free cholesterol molecules. The main LDL function is to transport cholesterol and cholesterol esters to extrahepatic tissues.	Low-Density Lipoprotein,Low-Density Lipoproteins,beta-Lipoprotein,beta-Lipoproteins,LDL(1),LDL(2),LDL-1,LDL-2,LDL1,LDL2,Low-Density Lipoprotein 1,Low-Density Lipoprotein 2,LDL Lipoproteins,Lipoprotein, Low-Density,Lipoproteins, Low-Density,Low Density Lipoprotein,Low Density Lipoprotein 1,Low Density Lipoprotein 2,Low Density Lipoproteins,beta Lipoprotein,beta Lipoproteins
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000324	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone	An anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the ADRENAL CORTEX and its production of CORTICOSTEROIDS. ACTH is a 39-amino acid polypeptide of which the N-terminal 24-amino acid segment is identical in all species and contains the adrenocorticotrophic activity. Upon further tissue-specific processing, ACTH can yield ALPHA-MSH and corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP).	ACTH,Adrenocorticotropin,Corticotropin,1-39 ACTH,ACTH (1-39),Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone,Corticotrophin,Corticotrophin (1-39),Corticotropin (1-39),Hormone, Adrenocorticotrophic,Hormone, Adrenocorticotropic
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001615	beta-Endorphin	A 31-amino acid peptide that is the C-terminal fragment of BETA-LIPOTROPIN. It acts on OPIOID RECEPTORS and is an analgesic. Its first four amino acids at the N-terminal are identical to the tetrapeptide sequence of METHIONINE ENKEPHALIN and LEUCINE ENKEPHALIN.	Endorphin, beta,beta-Endorphin (1-31),beta Endorphin
D049590	Postpartum Period	In females, the period that is shortly after giving birth (PARTURITION).	Puerperium,Postpartum,Postpartum Women,Period, Postpartum,Women, Postpartum