Effect of ganglion blockade with pentolinium on circulating neuropeptide Y levels in conscious rats.

The vasoconstrictor peptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), is present in perivascular noradrenergic neurons of all mammals studied and may be important in the regulation of blood pressure. High plasma levels of NPY have been measured in the rat. To investigate partially the source and factors controlling the release of the circulating peptide, the effect of pentolinium tartrate administration has been studied in conscious rats. Pentolinium given as a bolus (5 mg/kg) followed by an infusion of a further 5 mg/kg/30 min produced a highly significant reduction in blood pressure of more than 40 mm Hg, when compared to either basal values or control animals treated with saline. Pentolinium treatment resulted in significantly lower plasma neuropeptide Y levels (31.0 +/- 6.7 fmol/ml) compared with those of control animals (78.6 +/- 8.2 fmol/ml). Circulating catecholamines were also significantly reduced in those animals receiving pentolinium. These results are compatible with circulating NPY arising from the sympathetic nervous system, with release being controlled by the mechanisms already established for catecholamines.

Effects of perinatal stress and maternal traumatic stress on the cortisol regulation of preterm infants.

Preterm infants experience intense stress during the perinatal period because they endure painful and intense medical procedures. Repeated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during this period may have long-term effects on subsequent cortisol regulation. A premature delivery may also be intensely stressful for the parents, and they may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Usable saliva samples were collected (4 times per day over 2 days, in the morning at awakening, at midday, in the afternoon, and in the evening before going to bed) to assess the diurnal cortisol regulation from 46 preterm infants when the infants were 12 months of corrected age (∼ 14 months after birth). Mothers reported their level of PTSD symptoms. The results showed an interaction between perinatal stress and maternal traumatic stress on the diurnal cortisol slope of preterm infants (R(2) = .32). This suggests that the HPA axis of preterm infants exposed to high perinatal stress may be more sensitive to subsequent environmental stress.

The Iowa Perinatal, April-May-June 2004, Vol. 15, no.2

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal, January-February-March 2005, Vol. 26, no.1

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal, April-May-June 2005, Vol. 26, no.2

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal, July-August-September 2005, Vol. 26, no.3

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal, October-November-December 2005, Vol. 26, no.4

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, January-February-March 2006, Vol. 27, no.1

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, April-May-June 2006, Vol. 27, no.2

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, April-May-June 2004, Vol. 25, no.2

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, July-August-September 2006, Vol. 27, no.3

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, October-November-December 2006, Vol. 27, no.4

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, January-February-March 2007, Vol. 28, no.1

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, April-May-June 2007, Vol. 28, no.2

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.

The Iowa Perinatal Letter, July-August-September 2007, Vol. 28, no.3

This newsletter from The Department of Public Health about perinatal health care and statistics.