Abstract
Blood insulin, glucagon and GH were measured at 0-12, 13-24, 25-48, 49-72 and 73-96 hours of age, and were compared to birth weight above or below 1000 gm, gestational age above and below 32 weeks, size appropriate or small for gestational age, and the presence of chronic in-utero stress, perinatal asphyxia, central nervous system hemorrhage, and mortality in 31 premature infants. Plasma (P) insulin very often was undetectable (85.2%) and p. glucagon was detected in most of the samples (75.4%). P. levels of insulin and glucagon were not related to clinical conditions other than to birth weights. Infants weighing 1000 gm or less more often had measurable insulin and glucagon as compared to those weighing over 1000 gm. This finding was noted only when they were appropriate for their gestational age. Premature infants with adequate in-utero growth seemed to have adequate insulin secretion before they reached 1000 gm and were ready for the future fetal growth. When the actual growth spurt took place, these infants often did not have circulating insulin. These data suggest that circulating insulin detected may not be the biologically active form. In contrast to insulin, GH did not seem to be related to fetal growth. Infants with birth weights of 1000 gm or less and perinatal asphyxia had GH that were often 2.5 ng/ml or less. All infants with GH 2.5 ng/ml or less died. No infant with chronic in-utero stress had GH 2.5 ng/ml or less. These data support the concept that severe insult may shut off GH secretion as in hypopituitarism, and chronic stress may increase GH secretion.
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Yoon, J., Wu, R., Esquea, A. et al. 306 INSULIN, GLUCAGON AND GROWTH HORMONE (GH) IN RELATION TO CLINICAL CONDITIONS IN PREMATURE INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 491 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00317
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00317