Dissociation of Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Beta-Endorphin-like Immunoactivity Levels during Pregnancy and Parturition

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Abstract
Bilical arterial (n = 11) and venous (n = 11) samples were also obtained. In agreement with previous investigations, it was found that plasma levels of β-ELI increased during labor (mean ± SEM: nonpregnant women, 63.5 ± 18.2; pregnant women at term, 64.0 ± 12.2; women in labor, 110.8 ± 30.3 pg/ml), and that levels of umbilical arterial plasma of β-ELI exceeded those in umbilical venous plasma (132.5 ± 34.0 versus 68.2 ± 22.2). However, CSF levels of β-ELI did not change over the course of pregnancy or during labor (nonpregnant women, 36.5 ± 15.8; pregnant women at 16 to 20 weeks of gestation, 60.1 ± 10.3; pregnant women at term, 57.5 ± 8.4; women in labor 48.5 ± 8.3 pg/ml). This evidence that plasma and CSF levels of β-ELI are dissociated during labor calls into question inferences regarding behavioral changes during parturition based on plasma β-ELI measurements. Supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pulmonary Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) grant HL 19170, NIH biomedical research support grant 2S07 RR 05489, and NIH grant AM-07028-07. Reprint requests to Dr. Steinbrook, Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115. Accepted for publication May 25, 1982. © 1982 International Anesthesia Research Society...

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