This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Florio, P. Articles by Petraglia, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Florio, P. Articles by Petraglia, F. Related Collections Pediatric Endocrinology Female Endocrinology

High Fetal Urocortin Levels at Term and Preterm Labor

Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine (P.F., M.T., L.G., G.C., E.P., F.P.) and Human Pathology and Oncology (G.D.F., E.L.), University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Gynecological Science and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine (G.A.), 35100 Padua, Italy; and Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford (E.A.L.), Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Felice Petraglia, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. E-mail: petraglia{at}unisi.it.

Context: Placental urocortin has a role in the cascade of events leading to parturition by stimulating myometrial contractility and placental uterotonins secretion.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate urocortin levels in maternal and fetal [umbilical cord artery (UCA) and vein (UCV)] plasma at term and preterm labor.

Design: The study design was a controlled cross-sectional study performed from November 2003 to June 2004.

Setting: This study was performed at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena (Siena, Italy).

Patients: Plasma samples were collected at term in the absence of labor (TNL; n = 27; 39.3 ± 0.1 gestational weeks), at term spontaneous vaginal delivery (TL; n = 24; 40.1 ± 0.2 gestational weeks), and at preterm labor (PTL; n = 19; 32.4 ± 0.4 gestational weeks). Changes in urocortin mRNA expression were also evaluated in placentas collected from TNL (n = 11), TL (n = 11), and PTL (n = 10).

Intervention: Urocortin levels were measured by specific RIA. Changes in placental mRNA expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis.

Results: Maternal and UCA plasma urocortin levels were significantly (P < 0.0001 for all) higher in TL and PTL than in TNL. Furthermore, UCA concentrations were significantly (P < 0.0001 for all) higher than and correlated with maternal concentrations (TNL: r = 0.45; P < 0.05; TL: r = 0.959; P < 0.0001; PTL: r = 0.7719; P < 0.0001). UCV levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in TL and PTL than in TNL and were significantly (P < 0.0001 for all) higher than and significantly (P < 0.0001 for all) correlated with maternal values, but were significantly (P < 0.0001 for all) lower than and correlated with UCA values (TNL: r = 0.9548; P < 0.0001; TL: r = 0.927; P < 0.0001; PTL: r = 0.838; P < 0.0001). Placental urocortin mRNA expression did not differ among TNL, TL, and PTL samples.

Conclusions: Fetal urocortin secretion is increased in term and preterm labor. Whether these changes are a consequence rather than a cause of human parturition remains to be addressed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Imperatore, Wei Li, F. Petraglia, and J. R. G. Challis Urocortin 2 Stimulates Estradiol Secretion From Cultured Human Placental Cells: An Effect Mediated by the Type 2 Corticotrophin-releasing Hormone (CRH) Receptor Reproductive Sciences, June 1, 2009; 16(6): 551 - 558. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. M. Severi, C. Boni, L. Bruni, C. Bocchi, R. A. Aguiar, F. M. Reis, and F. Petraglia The Increase of Blood Flow in the Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery Correlates With the Onset of Labor at Term Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2008; 15(6): 584 - 590. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Florio, E. A. Linton, M. Torricelli, E. Faldini, F. M. Reis, A. Imperatore, G. Calonaci, E. Picciolini, and F. Petraglia Prediction of Preterm Delivery Based on Maternal Plasma Urocortin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2007; 92(12): 4734 - 4737. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Torricelli, E. Ignacchiti, A. Giovannelli, A. Merola, E. Scarpetti, G. Calonaci, E. Picciolini, P. Florio, F. M Reis, E. A Linton, et al. Maternal plasma corticotrophin-releasing factor and urocortin levels in post-term pregnancies Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2006; 154(2): 281 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]