Study of the impact of some hormones on brith weight

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work was to study the relationship of neonatal leptin, insulin and human placental lactogen [hPL] to birth weight, gender difference and the maternal levels. Serum leptin, insulin and hPL were assessed in the cord blood of 60 neonates and the venous blood of their mothers. The neonates were classified according to their birth weight into 23 appropriate for gestational age [AGA] 20 large for gestational age [LGA] and 17 small for gestational age [SGA]. Data showed insignificant correlation of maternal hPL with insulin and leptin in both maternal and neonatal samples. Neonatal leptin, insulin and maternal hPL are important hormones that regulate the fetal growth and development. Insulin and leptin levels were significantly higher in the maternal blood than in the cord blood. Moreover, insignificant correlation was found regarding both hormones in the two compartments. Neonatal leptin and insulin showed no gender difference in neonates of different birth weights. The association of neonatal leptin or insulin with birth weight and the significant positive correlation between both are the determinative factors for the fetal birth weight