Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone involved with adjustment of pregnancy, the process of delivery, breastfeeding, social recognition and bonding. This study aimed at determining the serum levels of oxytocin in pregnancy, during labour, and in the puerperium for Nigerian females in Zaria. It was a cross-sectional study of one hundred and twenty women aged 18 to 45 years from four hospitals in Zaria. The women were grouped into four groups comprising non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women (first, second, and third trimester), women in labour and in their first week after delivery. Questionnaires were administered to the women and their blood samples collected via venipuncture between 09.00 and 13.00 h. After centrifuging the blood samples, the sera were analyzed with human oxytocin ELISA kits at the Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika. Results were presented as frequencies, percentages and mean ± standard deviation (SD) while data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey post-hoc test and the reference range (defined as 95% confidence limits) was determined. A statistical significance of p 0.05. Maternal serum oxytocin levels at spontaneous vaginal delivery (532.25 ± 29.93 pg/ml; 95% CI: 507.23 to 557.27 pg/ml) were higher than those at caesarean section (502.40 ± 42.34 pg/ml; 95% CI: 449.83 to 554.97 pg/ml) though not statistically significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, it appears that maternal oxytocin levels in Nigerian females though following the pattern in other studies had higher values. Key words: Enzyme immunoassay, lactation, pregnancy hormone, reference range, serum oxytocin, Zaria.
Highlights
The neurohormone oxytocin (OTC) is known for its involvement in the process of delivery, reproductive behavior and its physiological role in the onset and maintenance of lactation (Thackare et al, 2006; Zamiri et al, 2001; Argiolas and Gessa, 1991)
Serum oxytocin levels (non-pregnant controls: 82.80 ± 23.68 pg/ml; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 73.02 to 92.58 pg/ml) rose progressively with advancing gestation, but there were no significant differences in serum oxytocin concentration for women in their third trimester (499.06 ± 42.06 pg/ml; 95% CI: 483.64 to 514.49 pg/ml) as compared to women during labour (525.0 ± 35.98 pg/ml; 95% CI: 497.35 to 552.65 pg/ml) and the puerperium, p>0.05
There was a progressive increase in mean serum oxytocin level across the trimesters of pregnancy into the puerperium (p
Summary
The neurohormone oxytocin (OTC) is known for its involvement in the process of delivery, reproductive behavior and its physiological role in the onset and maintenance of lactation (Thackare et al, 2006; Zamiri et al, 2001; Argiolas and Gessa, 1991). Lower blood oxytocin levels in autistic children were associated with higher social deficits (Parker et al, 2014; Andariet al., 2010; Modahl et al, 1998). The two comparison groups of the study by Parker et al (2014), consisted of children with autistic siblings and those without autistic siblings. All the groups demonstrated social skills correlating with their oxytocin levels. Variants of the oxytocin receptor correlated with social ability and are suggested to serve as predictors of attachment in human infants (Chen et al, 2011)
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