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PubMed1996

TCDD endrin and lindane induced increases in lipid metabolites in maternal sera and amniotic fluids of pregnant C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice.

TCDD, endrin and lindane induce an oxidative stress and enhance lipid peroxidation in fetal and placental tissues of mice. The levels of the products resulting from altered lipid metabolism, including malondialdehyde (MDA), formaldehyde (FA), acetaldehyde (ACT) and acetone (ACON) have been determined in maternal sera and amniotic fluids of pregnant C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice after oral administration of single fetotoxic doses of TCDD, endrin and lindane on day 12 of gestation, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Under these conditions, TCDD given at a dose of 30 micrograms/kg body weight to C57BL/6J mice produced 2.5-3.9 and 1.7-4.0 fold increases in the levels of the four metabolites in maternal sera and the amniotic fluids, respectively. TCDD given to DBA/2J mice at a dose of 60 micrograms/kg produced 1.5-1.7 and 1.7-2.2 fold increases in the levels of these metabolites in maternal sera and the amniotic fluids, respectively. Endrin, when given at a dose of 4.5 mg/kg body weight to either mouse strain, produced increases of 1.9-3.1 and 1.7-3.2-fold in the levels of the four metabolites in maternal sera and the amniotic fluids, respectively, in the C57BL/6J mice and increases of 1.4-1.6 and 1.2-1.5 fold in the levels of these metabolites in maternal sera and the amniotic fluids, respectively, in the DBA/2J mice. Lindane given at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight to C57BL/6J mice produced 1.5-2.0 and 1.3-1.7-fold increases in the four metabolites in maternal serum and amniotic fluids, respectively, while administration of this same dose to DBa/2J mice produced 1.2-1.5 and 1.1-1.5 fold increases, respectively. Increases in the levels of lipid metabolites occur in maternal serum and amniotic fluid as a result of enhanced lipid peroxidation in response to TCDD, endrin and lindane. Lipid peroxidation may participate in the fetotoxic effects of these xenobiotics and these effects are observed regardless of the Ah-responsiveness of the mice, although higher levels of the metabolites are produced by TCDD in Ah-responsive mice.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed2006

Elevated second trimester amniotic fluid interferon gamma-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant concentrations as a possible predictor of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and correlate midtrimester amniotic fluid concentrations of interferon gamma-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC, a chemokine directing the migration of activated T lymphocytes toward inflammation sites) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in women undergoing amniocentesis and subsequently delivering pre-or full-term infants. METHODS: Among 312 women undergoing midtrimester transabdominal amniocentesis, 13 progressed to spontaneous delivery at less than 37 gestational weeks (GW). Subjects were matched for maternal age, parity, and GW at amniocentesis with 21 controls who delivered at greater than 37 GW. Amniotic fluid ITAC and CRP levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by nephelometry, respectively. RESULTS: Both ITAC and CRP values were significantly higher (P = .005 and P = .04, respectively) in the amniotic fluid of women delivering at less than 37 GW. A statistically significant correlation between amniotic fluid ITAC and CRP concentrations was also found (r = .366, P < .05). The receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis of delivery at less than 37 GW gave the best cutoff point for ITAC at a concentration of 44 pg/mL and for CRP at a concentration of 0.16 mg/dL. Positive and negative predictive values for ITAC were 82% and 85%, respectively, and for CRP, 55% and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Present data indicate that from the second trimester of pregnancy elevated amniotic fluid concentrations of ITAC are found in women delivering at less than 37 GW, as compared to women delivering at term. Therefore, ITAC in combination with other cytokines or CRP could possibly serve as predictor of preterm delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Purification and characterization of endometrial protein PP14 from mid-trimester amniotic fluid.

Two methods are described for the purification of placental protein 14 from human mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The first includes gel filtration, anion exchange chromatography, and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The second method employs octyl-Sepharose chromatography instead of high performance liquid chromatography, and it also includes an anti-hCG adsorption step in order to remove the remaining traces of hCG from the purified PP14. In the first method, 362 micrograms of PP14 was recovered from 26 ml amniotic fluid with a final recovery of 25%. In the second method, 745 micrograms of PP14 was recovered from 200 ml amniotic fluid with a final recovery of 9.8%. As a result of either method sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified protein showed one band at 28 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies against placental PP14 reacted with this band in immunoblot analysis and radioimmunoassay. A single N-terminal amino acid sequence of M D I P Q T K Q D L E L P K L A G T W H S M A was obtained for the isolated protein. This sequence is identical to that previously reported for human placental PP14. Due to its high PP14 concentration amniotic fluid serves as an excellent starting material for purification of this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Routine measurement of the biggest amniotic fluid pocket in the 3d trimester: prognostic significance?].

The largest pocket of amniotic fluid was measured routinely during the last trimester of pregnancy in 577 patients representing risk and nonrisk cases. The measurements were performed at two clinics between 26 and 42 weeks of gestational age. A statistically significant relationship between a value of less than 30 mm and the following perinatal parameters was found: 5-min Apgar score less than 7, umbilical cord blood pH values less than 7.15, severe neonatal complications, intrauterine growth retardation, perinatal mortality. The good predictive value of decreased amniotic fluid measured by the largest pocket, and the simple practicability of the method raise the question whether the largest pocket of amniotic fluid should not be assessed routinely at each ultrasound examination during the last trimester. The consequences of a decreased value are discussed.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors in plasma and amniotic fluid in pregnancies complicated with intrauterine fetal growth retardation.

Several fibrinolytic parameters were determined in plasma and amniotic fluid from normotensive pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR) and severe preeclamptic (PE) patients with IUGR and compared with data from normal pregnancies. A significant decrease in plasminogen activator type 2 (PAI-2) and urokinase levels in plasma and amniotic fluid was observed in IUGR groups in comparison with normal pregnancy. No significant differences were observed between the control and IUGR groups in relation to the other fibrinolytic parameters, except for plasma PAI type 1 and tissue-type plasminogen activator levels, which were significantly increased in the PE group. A significant positive correlation was observed between birth weight and PAI-2 levels in both plasma and amniotic fluid, but the plasma PAI-2 levels showed a higher correlation. In conclusion, these results suggest that the PAI-2 level measured in plasma is a more adequate marker of placental function than the PAI-2 level measured in amniotic fluid.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maternal intravenous hydration and amniotic fluid index in patients with preterm ruptured membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of an intravenous (i.v.) fluid bolus on the amniotic fluid index (AFI) in patients with preterm ruptured membranes. METHODS: Nonlaboring patients at 24-37 weeks' gestation with documented ruptured membranes were randomized to either no hydration or to an i.v. fluid bolus with 1 L of normal saline administered over 30 minutes. All patients had a baseline AFI measured. The same blinded examiner repeated the examination 90 minutes later. RESULTS: Six patients were randomized to the hydration group, seven to the control group. The groups were similar in age, gravidity, parity, time since rupture, gestational age, and baseline AFI. In the hydration group, the AFI increased 5.1 cm (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-7.3) after the fluid bolus. In the no-hydration group, the change was 0.6 cm (95% CI-1.1 to 2.2). The difference in the change in AFI between groups was 4.5 cm (95% CI 1.3-7.7) (P = .008). CONCLUSION: The AFI is sensitive to maternal hydration in patients with preterm rupture of membranes and can be increased with an i.v. fluid bolus.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Purification of placental protein PP12 from human amniotic fluid and its comparison with PP12 from placenta by immunological, physicochemical and somatomedin-binding properties.

Human amniotic fluid was found to contain a protein which is immunochemically indistinguishable from placental protein PP12. This protein was purified by gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction high performance liquid chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The relative molecular mass as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 34,000, and the isoelectric point was 4.9. Tryptic peptides of amniotic fluid PP12 as determined by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography were similar to those of placental PP12. Both had the N-terminal amino acid sequence Ala-Pro-Trp-Gln-, which is the same as previously reported for a somatomedin-binding protein. Both placental PP12 and amniotic fluid PP12 were found to bind somatomedin C (IGF-I) with high affinity, Ka = 1 X 10(9) l/mol). Amniotic fluid is an ideal source of this somatomedin-binding protein, and the purification method described allows rapid isolation of PP12 under mild conditions which are essential for studies on its biological function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Acetylcholine increase in amniotic fluid of experimental rats for intrauterine growth retardation.

Previous reports from this laboratory have demonstrated evidence for synthesis and release of acetylcholine (ACh) and catecholamines (CAs) by human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC) and the presence of ACh and CAs in amniotic fluid. To study the physiological role of amniotic ACh, we used an experimental pregnant rat model for intrauterine growth retardation. Prior to this experiment, we confirmed the presence of choline acetyltransferase in the HAEC by immunocytochemical staining. Amniotic fluid was collected at 48 and 72 h after a transient ligation of the uterine vessels near the lower and upper ends of the right horn of the pregnant rat. The ACh concentration in the amniotic fluid from rats received intrauterine ischemia increased with time to a greater degree compared with the control rat, although the increase was not statistically significant. These results suggest that intrauterine hypoxic conditions cause a tendency to increase ACh concentrations in the amniotic fluid.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2002

Does amniotic fluid volume affect fetofetal transfusion in monochorionic twin pregnancies? Modelling two possible mechanisms.

Clinical evidence suggests that increased amniotic fluid volume due to polyhydramnios increases placental vascular resistance. We have sought to model the possible effects of an increased amniotic fluid volume on the net fetofetal transfusion in monochorionic twin pregnancies. We wanted to compare these effects with the results of previous simulations, which aimed to explain why the twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) placentas more often include bidirectional arteriovenous (AV) rather than AV plus arterioarterial (AA) anastomoses. We extended our mathematical model of TTTS by simulating two different mechanisms that increase the placental vascular resistance as a consequence of polyhydramnios. First, there is an increase in the placental capillary resistance and hence in deep AV and opposite AV (denoted as VA) resistances due to polyhydramnios. Second, there is an increase in the resistance of chorionic veins due to polyhydramnios, assuming that these veins act as Starling resistors. We then simulated the effects of polyhydramnios on different placental anastomotic patterns. The results were as follows. In the first mechanism (polyhydramnios affects AV-VA resistances), an increased amniotic fluid volume hardly affected bidirectional AV, but slightly decreased fetofetal transfusion in AV plus AA anastomoses. However, for these effects to change the natural development of the pregnancy, polyhydramnios needed to persist for approximately 4 weeks, and by comparing the effects of polyhydramnios with the effects of amnioreduction, amnioreduction was more beneficial for normalizing the donor amniotic fluid volume. Therefore, these beneficial effects due to polyhydramnios have no practical clinical significance. In the second mechanism (Starling resistor for chorionic veins), polyhydramnios slightly increased fetofetal transfusion and hence slightly increased TTTS severity in bidirectional AV and AV plus VV, but did not affect AV plus AA anastomoses. In conclusion, we hypothesize that the simulated effects of polyhydramnios are not the primary cause of the fact that TTTS placentas more often include bidirectional AV than AV plus AA anastomoses. Rather, the more likely explanation is the previously identified larger range of AA than VA anastomotic diameters that adequately compensate for the effects of the AV.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The distinction of elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels in amniotic fluids for antenatal diagnosis of genetic defects].

Among 1017 amniotic fluid samples of 831 patients were 110 cases (10,8%) cases with sanguivolent amniotic fluid in the first portion and a second clear specimen. Contrary to the trend to analyse only the second clear share, we tested both samples. 110 pregnancies are analysed. The abortion risk (1,8%) in this group and the rate of prematurity (8,1%) are not increased. Retrospectively we were able to demonstrate a fetus injury in one case. The different analysis enable us to a conclusion about the fetal risk.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1988

Complement factors in fetal and maternal blood and amniotic fluid during the second trimester of normal pregnancy.

Complement factors (C3, C4, C5; Factors B, H and I) were measured in maternal and fetal serum and amniotic fluid obtained from 55 women with singleton pregnancy undergoing diagnostic fetoscopy at 15 to 28 weeks gestation. Maternal serum levels were consistently 10 times higher than fetal levels which in turn were 10 times higher than levels in amniotic fluid. Spearman rank correlation analysis at weeks 20 to 22 (n = 20) revealed a statistically significant correlation between maternal and fetal levels of C3 and Factors B and I, and between maternal and amniotic fluid levels of Factors B and I. A significant increase in fetal levels of C3, C4 and Factor H, and in amniotic fluid levels of C3 and Factor B was seen in relation to advancing gestational age. These differences were not seen in maternal serum during the short interval of pregnancy studied. These data confirm earlier assumptions of fetal synthesis of complement factors, and provide normal reference ranges of complement factors in fetal blood and amniotic fluid.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1992

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in midtrimester amniotic fluid is associated with impaired intrauterine fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether abnormal immune system activation is involved in the pathogenesis of some instances of impaired fetal growth, we compared tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in midtrimester amniotic fluid samples obtained from appropriate-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: In a case-control study with the sensitive and specific WEHI cell assay, bioactive tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in amniotic fluid samples from 24 gestations resulting in small-for-gestational-age infants were compared with levels in 35 samples obtained from gestations resulting in the birth of a term, appropriate-for-gestational-age infant. The two groups were not significantly different with regard to indication for amniocentesis, maternal age, race, smoking history, parity, or other factors. RESULTS: Elevated amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity was associated with small-for-gestational-age birth, p = 0.028. With a threshold of 10 pg/ml, elevated amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha had a sensitivity of 48% for the detection of small-for-gestational-age birth, with a specificity of 83%. CONCLUSION: Elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha in midtrimester amniotic fluid is associated with impaired intrauterine fetal growth. Abnormal immune system activation, as manifested by increased amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity, may mediate impaired fetal growth in some cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Extent of nicotine and cotinine transfer to the human fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid of smoking mothers.

Nicotine and cotinine concentrations were measured in placental tissue during the first trimester, in amniotic fluid during the second trimester and in placental tissue and fetal serum at birth. These values were compared to the corresponding serum concentrations of the smoking mothers. Nicotine concentrations in the placentas (range 3.3-28 ng/g), in amniotic fluid (range 1.5-23 ng/ml) and in fetal serum (range 0.5-25 ng/ml) were all higher than the corresponding maternal serum values: amniotic fluid/maternal vein serum concentration ratio 1.54 +/- (SD) 0.27 (n = 23; week 16-24 of gestation), umbilical vein serum/maternal vein serum ratio 1.12 +/- 0.30 (n = 26; at birth); placental tissue/maternal vein serum ratio 2.58 +/- 1.30 (n = 17; at birth); these ratios were between 1.2 and 5 during week 10 of gestation (n = 3). The ratios did not depend on the time between the last cigarette smoked and sampling. Significant correlations were found between nicotine concentrations in amniotic fluid and maternal serum (r = 0.88), between fetal and maternal serum levels (r = 0.88) and between placental and maternal serum levels (r = 0.52). Cotinine concentrations in placental tissue (range 10-131 ng/g), amniotic fluid (range 5-188 ng/ml) and fetal serum (range 15-233 ng/ml) were lower than or similar to corresponding maternal serum levels. Our results indicate that the human fetus is exposed to higher nicotine concentrations that the smoking mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Prostaglandins in the plasma and amniotic fluid of rhesus monkeys during pregnancy and after intra-uterine foetal death.

Prostaglandin F (PGF) was measured in amniotic fluid, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) was measured in maternal peripheral venous plasma and amniotic fluid of rhesus monkeys during late pregnancy. 13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha was determined in the maternal peripheral venous plasma of two animals following intra-uterine foetal death. The mean concentration of PGF and PGFM in amniotic fluid increased fourfold during the last 5 days of pregnancy. This increase was associated with an increase in the oestrone concentration in amniotic fluid and in maternal plasma. In normal pregnancy there was no increase in PGFM levels in the maternal peripheral vein, up to 1-2 days pre partum. After intra-uterine death, progesterone concentration in the maternal peripheral vein was unaltered, but oestrone and oestradiol declined. In plasma samples taken within 12 h of delivery, the concentration of PGFM was raised. It is concluded that an increase in prostaglandin production accompanies delivery at normal term, and at delivery past term following intra-uterine foetal death.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1992

Platelet-activating factor levels in human follicular and amniotic fluids.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) was estimated in extracts of human follicular and amniotic fluids using a commercially available 125I-radioimmunoassay. Levels obtained before and after purification of the extracts by thin-layer chromatography were similar and PAF could be estimated with high accuracy and reproducibility over a wide dilution range. PAF levels in fluid aspirated from mature (17 mm average diameter) follicles from in vitro fertilization patients were 1005 +/- 129 fmol/ml in successful (clinical pregnancy) cycles and 949 +/- 75 fmol/ml in unsuccessful (failure of implantation) cycles. PAF levels were also similar in follicles containing eggs and those where no egg was found, and in fluid from follicular cysts characterised by low oestradiol and progesterone levels. PAF was detected in midtrimester amniotic fluid (60 +/- 20 fmol/ml). At term, PAF was low or undetectable in amniotic fluid obtained at elective caesarean section before the onset of labour, but increased to 102 +/- 28 fmol/ml in samples obtained following spontaneous labour and vaginal delivery. The data suggest that PAF may be involved in ovulation and parturition but further studies into the mechanism of action of PAF are necessary. The good performance of the radioimmunoassay and the convenience of gamma-counting are strong advantages of this method over the available bioassays, but its expense remains a drawback.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1983

Quantification of the D2-glycoprotein in amniotic fluid and serum from pregnancies with fetal neural tube defects.

D2 is a glycoprotein existing in both membrane-bound and soluble forms. Employing a specific rabbit antibody against purified human brain D2, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantification of D2 and applied it to amniotic fluids from 87 normal and 36 pathological pregnancies. With a cut-off point of 150 ng D2/ml, no false positive D2 values were obtained in any of the amniotic fluids from normal fetuses, although the alpha-fetoprotein concentrations were slightly increased in 13 cases. No false negative D2 values were found in any of the 18 investigated amniotic fluids from fetuses with anencephaly. Of 8 amniotic fluids from fetuses with spina bifida, 2 false negative D2 values were found. No false negative alpha-fetoprotein values were found in any of the cases with neural tube defects in this study. In 10 amniotic fluids from fetuses with other malformations, 5 samples showed raised D2 concentrations. The D2 level in sera from 10 women carrying normal fetuses and 16 women carrying malformed fetuses was also determined, but no statistically significant difference in D2 level was found in the pathological sera when compared with normal sera. It was concluded that the determination of D2 concentrations in amniotic fluid by means of the D2-ELISA may be used as an additional test in the screening of fetal malformations in early pregnancy.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1980

Copper and ceruloplasmin activity in human amniotic fluid.

The variation in the level of copper and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in human amniotic fluid from 20 weeks' gestation to term was reported. The protein content of amniotic fluid decreased toward term. A definite decreasing trend of concentration of copper, expressed both as nanograms of copper per milliliter of amniotic fluid and nanograms of copper per milligram of protein, was also observed from midgestation toward term. Ceruloplasmin, on the other hand, demonstrated a significant increase from the period 20 38 weeks' gestation, with a subsequent decline after 38 weeks.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1977

Preparation of bio- and immunoactive human prolactin in milligram amounts from amniotic fluid in 60% yield.

Bio- and immunoactive human prolactin (hPRL) was isolated from amniotic fluid. The overall yield is a single passage through the procedure was 60%; 5 liters of amniotic fluid (10 mg hPRL) yielded 3 mg (30%) of a mixture of hPRL isohormones A, B (both minor), C and D (both major), and less than 10% contamination with extraneous protein. A further 3 mg hPRL was less highly purified. Two mg hPRL was recycled. The product has been stable for at least 1 year at--70 C, suitable for iodination, and gave rise to RIA dose-response curves indistinguishable from those obtained with pituitary hPRL. The isolated hormone, after stoichiometric iodination, is active in binding to both mammary gland and liver cell membrane receptors and exhibits a biological activity, in the local pigeon crop-sac assay, of 47.3 +/- 6.1 IU/mg. The isolation procedure consisted of 3 steps: 1) hollow-fiber dialysis to concentrate amniotic fluid; 2) gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 to remove bulk contaminants; 3)isoelectric focusing in a density gradient, taking advantage of the elevated isoelectric points, relative to contaminants, of hPRL isohormones (6.0-6.5, corrected). Production of this preparation, carried out on two separate occasions, required each time 3 months of a single investigator's time, inclusive of assay work.

Amniotic Fluid↗