Abstract
To evaluate changes in concentrations of selected biomarkers, neurotrophic factors, and growth factors in the cerebrospinal fluid during pregnancy. A prospective observational study was conducted in 32 pregnant women undergoing gynecological and obstetrical surgery under spinal anesthesia in a university hospital. Beta-amyloid(1–42) and beta-amyloid(1–40) peptides, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eight women in second trimester pregnancy who underwent spinal anesthesia for gynecological or obstetrical surgery were compared with 24 matched women in third trimester pregnancies. CSF concentrations of beta-amyloid(1–42) were significantly higher in third trimester pregnancies (p = 0.025). During third trimester, the beta-amyloid ratio correlated with the vascular endothelial growth factor (rs = 0.657; p = 0.008). Higher concentrations of beta-amyloid(1–42) in cerebrospinal fluid of third trimester pregnancies and correlations between the beta-amyloid ratio and the vascular endothelial growth factor support the hypothesis that beta-amyloid peptides are involved in complex adaptive brain alterations during pregnancy.
Highlights
Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological changes, including long-lasting alterations in the maternal brain such as neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity (Hoekzema et al 2017)
Several biomarkers and neurotrophic factors have been reported to take part in the physiological brain changes occurring during pregnancy
In a recent study (Lederer et al 2020), we reported that betaamyloid peptides correlate with placental dysfunction
Summary
Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological changes, including long-lasting alterations in the maternal brain such as neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity (Hoekzema et al 2017). Several biomarkers and neurotrophic factors have been reported to take part in the physiological brain changes occurring during pregnancy. Increased serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during pregnancy. Amyloid precursor protein (APP), a trans-membranous protein most commonly found in brain and platelets, regulates synapse formation and neural plasticity and induces axogenesis and neurite growth (Priller et al 2006; Halle et al 2008). APP is sequentially cleaved by membranebound secretases to generate different beta-amyloid peptides, of which beta-amyloid(1–40) is the most abundant (Priller et al 2006; Halle et al 2008). In a recent study (Lederer et al 2020), we reported that betaamyloid peptides correlate with placental dysfunction
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