Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of neurotransmitter amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of asphyctic newborns, and to establish whether these concentrations are related to the degree of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Levels of glutamate, aspartate, glycine and taurine in CSF were measured in 48 full-term newborns during the first 2 d of life. Thirty-nine of these newborns had birth asphyxia and were divided into three groups: 11 without HIE, 19 with mild HIE and 9 with moderate HIE. None suffered from severe HIE. They were compared with a control group of 9 non-hypoxic newborns. Determinations of the amino acids in CSF were made by chromatography and expressed as micromol/l (mean+/-SD). CSF glycine value was related to erythrocyte count, and CSF taurine value was related to its plasmatic level. Levels of CSF glycine were related to the severity of HIE (p=0.020): control (12.08+/-4.04 micromol/l), without HIE (12.49+/-4.04 micromol/l), mild HIE (12.14+/-3.83 micromol/l), and moderate HIE (19.1+/-10.08 micromol/l; p < 0.05 versus mild HIE), even after removing the influence of red cells in CSF.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.