Plasma Kinin and Kininogen Levels in Women During Pregnancy and in Labour

Abstract

Summary. Kininogen and kinin levels in venous plasma were determined in groups of normal adult men and women and in pregnant women at different periods of gestation and in labour.Kininogen levels were found to be significantly higher in the pregnant women than in the male and female controls. A significant positive linear correlation was found between period of gestation and plasma kininogen level.Differences between the mean plasma kinin levels in groups of control adults and pregnant women were in most cases not significant.No significant linear correlation was found between kinin and kininogen levels in plasma in any of the groups studied and no definite trends were found in the kinin and kininogen levels at delivery.

Plasma Kinin and Kininogen Levels in Newborn Infants with Respiratory Distress

“…It is of interest to note that there was only 1 female in the group. In table II, the mean kinin and kininogen levels in the two groups of infants arc compared with those from groups of normal adults and pregnant women almost at term obtained in another study by Porter et al [10].…”

“…While there appears to be a significant rise in the kininogen content of the blood as the pregnant woman nears term [10,13] this does not seem to be duplicated in her newborn baby.…”

“…The kinin was assayed on the superfused oestrus rat uterus preparation [9] using a semi-automatic apparatus [10].…”

The influence of drugs on the kinin-forming system in relation to pregnancy and parturition in the rat

“…The kallikrein-kinin system has been studied during labour and parturition in women (Martinez, Carvalho & Diniz, 1962;Periti & Gaspard, 1966;Porter, Shennan & Smith, 1972). A rise in maternal plasma kininogen values occurs in late pregnancy and it has been postulated that a large amount of bradykinin is produced during expulsion of the fetus.…”

Plasma kininogen during the oestrous cycle, early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in the rat.

“…Using the technique of measuring the plasma kinin precursor it has been shown in the human that kininogen values increase during pregnancy and JUDITH SENIOR AND E. T. WHALLEY there is some evidence that kininogen may be mobilized during foetal delivery (Periti & Gasparri, 1966;Porter, Shennan & Smith, 1972). In the rabbit plasma kininogen also increases as gestation advances and depletion of kininogen occurs at parturition (Weigerhausen, Klausch, Hennighausen & Sosat, 1968).…”