Relation among serum ghrelin, leptin levels of the healthy pregnant women and the growth factors, lipid profile and neonatal birth weights

Growth and development is characterized by formation of the tissues from the cells and transformation and maturation of the same to be functional. Fetal growth takes place with satisfaction of the physiological needs in consequence of the mutual interaction of the maternal and placental environment with the fetus. The fetal hormones regulate the growth through their metabolic and mitogenic impacts.The ghrelin and leptin physiology in pregnancy constitutes the new research topics and there is limited number of studies on this topic. The placental localization of ghrelin and the knowledge of its relation with the growth hormone lead to think that it may play a role in fetal growth during pregnancy. In our study, we have searched the impact of ghrelin, leptin and the other growth hormones, known to be influential on the human growth hormones emission and the energy homeostasis, on the serum concentrations in the pregnant women, and the impact of this. If any, on the neonatal birth weights, placental weight and the manner of birth.Thirty-six healthy singleton pregnant women between 19 and 36 gestational weeks have been included in our study. After the routine evaluation of the cases have been made at the first, second and the third trimester visits. The 10-hour hunger venous blood has been drawn and their serums have been stored at -80oC so as to evaluate the ghrelin, leptin, prolactin, lipid profile (Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL), the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II hormones. During the birth, the cord bloods has also been drawn from the same pregnant women and their newborns and the serum samples of these bloods have been stored under the same conditions to work on the same parameters. The birth manners, the birth weights of the pregnant women, the placenta weights and the birth weights of the newborns have been recorded following the birth.In each trimester monitoring of the pregnant women. It has been detected that the weight, total cholesterol, total triglyceride, LDL and prolactin levels have increased as the pregnancy weeks have passed, that the IGF-I serum levels have decreased as the pregnancy weeks have passed. Although it is not statistically meaningful. It has been observed that the serum ghrelin levels of the pregnant women have decreased as the trimester has passed and that their leptin levels have increased as the trimester has passed.When the impact of the pregnant women?s biochemical parameters during the birth on the manner of birth has been investigated. The maternal birth weight and the leptin levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in those who gave birth through caesarean section.When the baby weight and the correlation between the biochemical parameters of the pregnant women at the time of birth have been investigated. A negative statistically significant correlation has been found with IGF-I. When the correlation between the placental weight and the babies? biochemical parameters has been evaluated. No statistically significant finding has been acquired. Between the placental weight and the biochemical parameters of the pregnant women at the time of birth. However, a positive correlation with weight has been found.In our study, the ghrelin and IGF-I levels decrease as the pregnancy advances and the leptin levels increase in correlation with weight. However, in order to evaluate the impacts of the ghrelin, leptin and the other growth factors on pregnancy and the neonatal weight. Studies that include higher number of cases are needed.