Effects of bromocriptine administration to pregnant rabbits upon fetal lung maturation.

If endogenous prolactin secretion is important in normal development of fetal lung surfactant, the inhibition of its secretion should be associated with delayed maturation of fetal lung. We therefore studied the effect of bromoergocriptine administration to pregnant rabbits upon lecithin content of fetal lung washes. The does were treated since the 27th day of gestation with either Mesilate of 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine (C32H40BrN5O5, CH3SO3H) (Bromocriptine) (Parlodel, Sandoz) (1 mg/kg/day) or solvent twice daily until delivery. The newborns were killed immediately by intraperitoneal administration of sodium pentobarbital and tracheostomized; then lung washes were performed. The extracted lipids were plated and run on heat-activated thin layers of silica gel H. Lecithin was eluted, and phosphorus determination was performed. The level of lecithin phosphorus in the lung washes of the fetuses whose mothers received Bromocriptine was X = 2.24 +/- 0.39 microgram/g dry lung weight, whereas that of fetuses of control does was X = 6.93 +/- 2.64 microgram/g dry lung weight (P less than 0.001). The mean body weight of the fetuses from treated mothers was 38.22 +/- 6.39 g whereas that of fetuses from control rabbits was 47.63 +/- 6.94 g (P less than 0.001). The mother's body weight gain from days 26 to 30 in Bromocriptine-treated rabbits was 156.11 +/- 99.4 g, whereas that of controls was 374.38 +/- 166.21 g (P less than 0.01).

Tecnologia apropiada para la atencion del parto. / Appropriate technology to labor management

La tecnologia apropiada para la atencion del parto normal permite vigilar el progreso del mismo sin interferir en su fisiologia ni en las relaciones del grupo familiar. Con este fin, se promueve la participacion activa de ambos padres, la adopcion de posiciones naturales y comodas para la madre, como tambien la realizacion espontanea de los esfuerzos expulsivos. Asimismo, se evitam las maniobras y medicaciones innecesarias, que interfieren tanto en el proceso natural del parto, como en la interaccion precoz de la madre con el recien nacido

Estriol serum levels, neonatal vitality and stromal villous edema in diabetic pregnancies.

Estriol serum levels, neonatal vitality and stromal villous edema were studied in diabetic pregnancies. The average serum estriol levels in diabetic patients whose placentas had villous edema was 26.45 +/- 9.16 ng/ml. This value was significantly lower than that of the diabetic patients without villous edema (59.26 +/- 12.06 ng/ml). The average serum estriol levels in diabetic patients who gave birth to depressed newborns was 25.68 +/- 9.73 ng/ml. In diabetic women who gave birth to vigorous newborns this value was 56.57 +/- 14.10 ng/ml. The difference was statistically significant. These results and similar findings from other authors are discussed.

Human chorionic somatomammotropin, estriol and oxytocinase as indexes of fetal growth.

A group of 56 women with high risk pregnancies were studied since the 32nd week of gestation. With the aim of obtaining reliable fetal growth indicators, maternal serum hCS, estriol and oxytocinase levels were determined. hCS and estriol were determined by specific radioimmunoassays and oxytocinase with a colorimetric method. Mean values obtained the week before delivery of both hormones and the enzyme were correlated with the weight of the newborns. The correlation coefficients were 0.30, 0.33 and 0.30 for hCS, estriol and oxytocinase respectively (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The newborns were classified into two groups, small for date and adequate weight for gestational age. Maternal hCS level corresponding to newborns with adequate birthweight for their gestational age was 7.94 ug/ml. This value was statistically higher than that corresponding to the group of small-for-date newborns, which was 5.15 ug/ml (Fig. 5). Similar results were obtained when the maternal estriol levels were considered according to the birthweight (Fig. 7). The same analysis applied to oxytocinase values did not show statistically significant differences. Arbitrary critical levels were established for hCS and estriol at 7 ug/ml and 35 ng/ml respectively. When values were below these levels, newborns would have greater possibility of being small for dates (Figs. 6 and 8). The predictive value was best when both hormones were considered concomitantly (77%) (Fig. 9). These results indicate the suitability of considering hCS and estriol levels in order to assess fetal growth.

HCS, estriol and oxytocinase in maternal serum and neonatal condition in high risk pregnancies.

In order to find a reliable index of fetal wellbeing, maternal estriol, hCS and oxytocinase levels were related with condition of the neonate. Fifty six high risk pregnancies were studied. Estriol and hCS were determined by specific radioimmunoassay and oxytocinase with a colorimetric method. The condition of the newborn was evaluated by the APGAR score. Neonates were divided into two groups, depressed (APGAR score 0-6) and vigorous (APGAR score 7-10). When the mean birthweights of both groups were statistically different, maternal estriol levels were corrected to avoid the influencing factor of newborn weight. Mean maternal estriol level corresponding to vigorous newborns was 46.73 ng/ml. This value was statistically higher than that corresponding to the group of depressed newborns, which was 26.25 ng/ml (Fig. 1). The mean birthweight of depressed infants (2,382.75 g) was statistically lower than that of the vigorous group (3,044.75 g). The corrected mean maternal estriol values of vigorous neonates (45.44 ng/ml) was different from that of depressed ones (25.14 ng/ml) (Fig. 2). When patients were divided according to maternal diseases (diabetes, vascular pathology, Rh sensitization) serum estriol levels of the mother were statistically different according to the Apgar score of the newborns. There was no significant difference between serum hCS and oxytocinase levels of mothers with depressed and vigorous newborns. Discarding fetal weight as an influencing factor in maternal hormone level, our results indicate the suitability of maternal serum estriol determinations to predict condition of the newborns in high risk pregnancies.