Plasma catecholamine concentrations in infants at birth and during the first 48 hours of life

doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(80)80836-5

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 96, Issue 2, February 1980, Pages 311-315

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(80)80836-5 Get rights and content

A radioenzymatic assay was used to measure plasma concentrations of the catecholamines, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in the perinatal period. Samples were obtained at birth from the umbilical artery and vein of infants born by vaginal and by cesarean section delivery; from peripheral venous samples of normal infants during the first 48 hours of life; and from peripheral venous samples of mothers prior to delivery. Concentrations of NE and E were elevated in umbilical samples, with umbilical artery levels exceeding umbilical venous concentrations. Umbilical plasma CAT concentrations were similar in vaginal and cesarean section delivered infants. Plasma concentrations of NE consistently predominated over E in all samples from neonates. Plasma CAT concentrations rapidly fell from cord levels within 15 minutes of delivery and remained at a lower plateau during the first three hours of life. By 12 hours of age plasma CAT concentrations fell to the levels of supine adult resting concentrations. Maternal plasma CAT concentration prior to delivery demonstrated a predominance of E over NE. These elevations of plasma CAT in the early neonatal period may play a role in nonshivering heat production as well as in cardiovascular alterations associated with birth.

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Up to 93% of extremely preterm infants may receive therapy for hypotension [67]. The etiology of hypotension in preterm infants is multifaceted and includes adrenal insufficiency [68], persistence of the patent ductus arteriosus leading to decreased systemic perfusion [69], immaturity of cardiac myocytes, and poor systemic vascular tone [70]. In addition to the other gasotransmitters, H2S may also modulate vascular function after birth.
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Concentration gradient of noradrenaline from the periphery to the centre of the cornea - A clue to its origin
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Levels of DOPA, DA and DOPAC were detected in both iris and aqueous samples (Table 1 and Fig. 3b). Mean human venous plasma concentration of catecholamines measured in supine resting adults, as reported elsewhere in the scientific literature, were considered for the sake of comparison (Jason Eliot et al., 1980; Peuler and Johnson, 1977). Statistically significant were the differences between: 1) DA versus NA and AD concentrations in the central (P < .0001) and intermediate (P < .0001) corneal segments; 2) NA versus AD (P < .0001) and DA (P = .0003) concentrations in the peripheral corneal segments; 3) NA, AD and NA concentrations in the iris (P < .0001); 4) AD versus NA (P = .0039) and DA (P < .0001) concentrations in the aqueous humour; 5) NA concentrations in peripheral corneal segments versus those in either central (P < .0001) or intermediate corneal segments (P = .0002); 6) DA concentrations in peripheral corneal segments versus those in either central (P < .0001) or intermediate corneal segments (P < .0001).
We set out to demonstrate that the major source of corneal catecholamines is its neuronal release from intrinsic sympathetic nerves rather than circulating or non-neuronal local production. Three concentric segments (central, intermediate, peripheral) were obtained by double trephination (9.5–7.25 mm) performed on corneas harvested from 3 to 4 month old rabbits and human corneas rejected for transplantation, along with aqueous humour, full iris tissue and blood samples. Endogenous catecholamines were quantified by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED), and comparison with the uptake of radio-labelled noradrenaline (3H-NA) before and after incubation with cocaine was performed. Results are means ± SEM. Ratios between enzymatic end products and their substrates were calculated. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Catecholamine levels were found to be about one log unit lower in the human cornea than in the rabbit cornea. In the rabbit, dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (AD) were identified by HPLC-ED in all corneal segments, whilst in the human cornea NA was identified only in the intermediate and peripheral corneal segments, and no AD was found. In the iris and aqueous humour only DA and NA were present. A concentration gradient for NA decreasing from the periphery to the centre of the cornea was identified in both species (NA/DA ratio higher than 1 in the periphery; low AD/NA ratio in all corneal segments), but not for DA or AD. After incubation with 3H-NA all corneal segments and iris tissue showed loading with the aforementioned gradient being reproduced, and a decrease in 3H-NA loading after cocaine was significant only in the peripheral corneal segment and in the iris of both species. Reduction in 3H-NA loading after incubation with cocaine shows that NA in the cornea is mostly of neuronal origin and demonstrates the presence of functional sympathetic nerves (also expectedly found in the iris); the existence of a gradient both for 3H-NA loading and loading reduction after cocaine points to a higher density of fibres in the peripheral cornea.
Metabolism of Glucose and Methods of Investigation in the Fetus and Newborn
2017, Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 2-Volume Set
Low epinephrine levels and selective deficiency of β<inf>2</inf>-adrenoceptor vasodilation at birth
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In addition, Paiva et al. showed that epinephrine is decreased in the adrenal medulla of newborn dogs and increased after birth, with a time-course parallel to the increase of relaxing effect of isoprenaline [23]. Also, in contrast to the human adults, the neonates have plasma concentrations of norepinephrine higher than those of epinephrine [5]. Since the β2-adrenoceptors are the major relaxing adrenoceptors in the main part of canine saphenous vein [8] and epinephrine is a much more potent agonist at β2-adrenoceptors than norepinephrine, a role for epinephrine in ontogenic development of those receptors was postulated [10].
Epinephrine is unique among biogenic catecholamines as a potent agonist of β₂-adrenoceptors. The β₂-adrenoceptor mediated effects during development might be linked to the increase of epinephrine synthesis. Our purpose was to characterize β-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in the aorta of newborn and young rabbits (3 to 4 months old), and to relate those responses with the epinephrine content of the adrenal gland.
The epinephrine levels and the tyrosine hydroxylase activity were determined in adrenal glands of newborn and young rabbits. Also, concentration–response curves to phenylephrine (selective α₁-adrenoceptor agonist), dobutamine (selective β₁-adrenoceptor agonist), terbutaline (selective β₂-adrenoceptor agonist), and CL 316243 (selective β₃-adrenoceptor agonist) were determined in isolated aortic rings obtained from both groups.
The adrenal gland content and the plasma concentrations of epinephrine were lower in newborn than in young rabbits. In contrast, the tyrosine hydroxylase activity was higher in newborn than in young rabbits. On the other hand, the maximal response to phenylephrine was lower in newborn than in young rabbits. Terbutaline at concentrations selective for β₂-adrenoceptors had no relaxing effects in neonates, in contrast to young rabbits. The potency and the maximal response of neither dobutamine nor CL 316243 were significantly different between the two groups.
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⁺: Supported by Public Health Service Grant No. HD-04270 from the National Institute of Child health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.

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Plasma catecholamine concentrations in infants at birth and during the first 48 hours of life+

Anal Biochem

Am J Obstet Gynecol

J Pediatr

Lancet

Urinary excretion of catecholamines by full term and premature infants

Pediatrics

The excretion of free catecholamines by newborn infants

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Urinary catecholamine excretion and plasma NEFA concentration in small for dates infants

Pediatrics

Environmental temperature, oxygen consumption and catecholamine excretion in newborn infants

Pediatrics

Chemical thermogenesis in newborn infants: catecholamine excretion and the plasma nonesterified fatty acid response to cold exposure

Pediatrics

Catecholamine excretion in the newborn period: effects of short periods of induced hypoxia

Acta Paediatr (Stockholm)

Effect of posture and insulin hypoglycemia on catecholamine excretion in the newborn

Acta Paediatr

Plasma pressors in the normal and stressed newborn infant

Pediatrics

Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline in the neonatal period, and infants with respiratory distress syndrome and placental insufficiency

Pediatrics

Catecholamine release in the newborn infant at birth

Pediatr Res