Increased cerebrospinal fluid concentration of aspartate but decreased concentration of nitric oxide breakdown products in women experiencing visceral pain during active labour.
Neuroreport
; 8(4): 995-8, 1997 Mar 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9141079
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate some putative neurotransmitters involved in nociception and pain in parturients during active labour experiencing intense visceral pain. The concentration of the excitatory amino acid aspartate was significantly increased, and there was a tendency for an increase in glutamate, in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of parturients in active vaginal labour compared with control patients without pain subjected to elective caesarean section. The CSF concentration of the nitric oxide breakdown product nitrate was significantly decreased in parturients compared with control patients and healthy volunteers. No significant differences in the concentrations of substance P, substance P-endopeptidase or met-enkephalin were detected between parturients and controls. Our data suggest a paradoxical negative relationship between CSF concentrations of excitatory amino acids and nitric oxide in labour pain. The mechanisms behind this finding is unclear at present.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pain
/
Labor, Obstetric
/
Aspartic Acid
/
Nitric Oxide
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Neuroreport
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
1997
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: