[Changes of hypothalamus and peripheral orphanin in fetal rats with intrauterine ischemia and hypoxia].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of orphanin in the perinatal ischemia-hypoxia. METHODS: The concentration of hypothalamus and peripheral orphanin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Animal model of perinatal ischemia-hypoxia was set up by ligating uterine vessels. All the rats were delivered by cesarean section and scored according to respiration, heart beat, skin color, muscle tone and reflex after delivery. RESULTS: (1) The levels of orphanin in hypothalamus and peripheral blood in group B were (114 +/- 21) pg/g and (58 +/- 11) ng/L respectively. In group A, the were (71 +/- 14) pg/g and (31 +/- 7) ng/L respectively, the levels of orphanin in group B increased significantly when compared with the group A (P < 0.05). In control group, the levels of orphanin were (48 +/- 9) pg/g and (19 +/- 4) ng/L. The levels of orphanin in group A and B were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (2) The Apgar scores in groups A and B were significantly decreased than that in control group (P < 0.01). The group A pups had significantly better scores than the group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The perinatal ischemia and hypoxia was associated with orphanin, the changes of orphanin levels may play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in perinatal ischemia and hypoxia.