Maternal and Cord Blood Ghrelin in the Pregnancies of Smoking Mothers: Possible Markers of Nutrient Availability for the Fetus

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the role of ghrelin in maternal and fetal metabolism, we determined its value in maternal smoking, a specific cause of reduced placenta function and fetal growth. Methods: In 85 normal term pregnancies, 42 in smoking and 43 in non-smoking mothers, we measured ghrelin in the maternal blood at the onset of labor and in the cord blood of their 85 singletons immediately after birth. We determined the relationships between ghrelin and placental GH (PGH), pituitary GH (pitGH), and IGF-I. Results: The newborns of smoking mothers weighed 0.24 kg less (p < 0.05) than those of non-smoking mothers. Cord blood ghrelin was 71% higher and PGH and cord blood IGF-I were 34% and 32% lower, respectively, in the pregnancies of smoking compared with non-smoking mothers (p < 0.05). Cord blood ghrelin was unrelated to pitGH and cord blood IGF-I. Maternal ghrelin was unchanged in smoking mothers, increased with maternal fasting duration (r = 0.26, p < 0.05), showed no correlation with PGH and negative correlation with cord blood IGF-I (r = –0.42, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The decrease in placental function and fetal growth in smoking mothers is associated with an increase in cord blood ghrelin, and no change in maternal ghrelin. Maternal ghrelin concentration increases with fasting, and is negatively correlated with cord blood IGF-I: it may signal a reduction in the level of nutrients available for placental transfer. No correlation supports a role for ghrelin in PGH or pitGH secretion.

Comparison of umbilical cord ghrelin concentrations in full-term pregnant women with or without gestational diabetes

“…Higher umbilical cord blood ghrelin concentrations were detected in SGA babies. Still, in babies of smoking mothers, increased ghrelin concentrations were observed (14,15). In general, an inverse correlation exists between the birth weights of babies and ghrelin concentrations (17,36).…”

“…An inverse correlation between ghrelin concentrations in cord blood and birth weight has been demonstrated (14,15). Ghrelin concentration in cord blood has not been investigated previously in patients with gestational diabetes, which is a condition that particularly affects fetal growth.…”

Intrauterine Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Is Associated with Increased Ghrelin Concentrations in Adulthood

“…Likewise, no significant differences in baseline plasma ghrelin concentrations between habitual smokers and nonsmokers were reported by Kokkinos et al [61] and Schanze et al [62]. However, while ghrelin was unchanged in smoking mothers compared to nonsmoking mothers, their newborns showed 71% higher cord blood ghrelin concentrations than the offspring of nonsmoking mothers [22]. According to Bouros et al [63], smoking appeared to acutely increase plasma ghrelin concentrations, while a suppression following short-term smoking was observed among nonsmokers [61].…”

“…In utero exposure to cigarette smoke, a known factor causing epigenetic modifications [19,20], led to significantly higher serum ghrelin concentrations in adult male rats compared to a control group of rats born to mothers without cigarette smoke exposure during gestation [21]. In humans, the newborns of smoking mothers were found to exhibit significantly higher cord blood levels of ghrelin than those of nonsmoking mothers [22]. …”

Ο ρόλος της ghrelin στην έκκριση της προλακτίνης και των γοναδοτροφινών ορμονών σε γυναίκες

“…Την 4 η ηµέρα της ζωής, τα επίπεδα της γκρελίνης σε πρόωρα νεογνά αυξήθηκαν πάνω από τα επίπεδα του οµφαλίου λώρου, ανεξάρτητα από την πρόσληψη τροφής (Bellone et al, 2006). Το κάπνισµα της µητέρας φαίνεται να επηρεάζει την έκκριση της γκρελίνης στο έµβρυο, αφού νεογνά από καπνίστριες µητέρες είχαν υψηλότερες τιµές γκρελίνης στον οµφάλιο λώρο από νεογνά από µη καπνίστριες µητέρες (Bouhours-Nouet et al, 2006).…”