We investigated the psychoneuroendocrine and emotional correlates of the natural stress situation of human labor. State anxiety, subjective pain, plasma ACTH, peripheral plasma betalipotropin (Beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (Beta-EP), and met-enkephalin (Met-Enk) were serially evaluated at six predetermined time points before, and after labor in a sample of 14 women with normal pregnancies. State anxiety and subjective pain showed a progressive increase during labor, with a levelling during the final stage. Plasma Beta-EP and ACTH showed a similar progressive increasing from baseline until the end of labor. Beta-LPH showed no significant modification. Met-Enk remained at nearly baseline values throughout labor, with a marked progressive rise in the postpartum stage. The findings of this study seem to confirm the role of plasma Beta-EP as a stress hormone. Possible relationship between pain and anxiety curves and plasma Beta-EP are discussed in light of psychobiological studies on stress, the opioid system and analgesia. Plasma Met-Enk, according to our findings, should probably not be regarded as a stress hormone. Its rise in the postpartum stage might be as one of the psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms maintaining elevated prolactin levels during lactation. © 1985.

ACTH, beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin: peripheral modifications during the stress of human labor / Zichella, Lucio; F., Fraioli; L., Carilli; Perrone, Giuseppina; A., Fabbri; A., Santoro; C., Moretti; Pancheri, P. - In: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0306-4530. - 10:3(1985), pp. 289-301. [10.1016/0306-4530(85)90006-x]

ACTH, beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin: peripheral modifications during the stress of human labor

ZICHELLA, Lucio;PERRONE, Giuseppina;Pancheri, P
1985

Abstract

We investigated the psychoneuroendocrine and emotional correlates of the natural stress situation of human labor. State anxiety, subjective pain, plasma ACTH, peripheral plasma betalipotropin (Beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (Beta-EP), and met-enkephalin (Met-Enk) were serially evaluated at six predetermined time points before, and after labor in a sample of 14 women with normal pregnancies. State anxiety and subjective pain showed a progressive increase during labor, with a levelling during the final stage. Plasma Beta-EP and ACTH showed a similar progressive increasing from baseline until the end of labor. Beta-LPH showed no significant modification. Met-Enk remained at nearly baseline values throughout labor, with a marked progressive rise in the postpartum stage. The findings of this study seem to confirm the role of plasma Beta-EP as a stress hormone. Possible relationship between pain and anxiety curves and plasma Beta-EP are discussed in light of psychobiological studies on stress, the opioid system and analgesia. Plasma Met-Enk, according to our findings, should probably not be regarded as a stress hormone. Its rise in the postpartum stage might be as one of the psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms maintaining elevated prolactin levels during lactation. © 1985.
1985
acth; beta-endorphin; labor; met-enkephalin; stress
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
ACTH, beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin: peripheral modifications during the stress of human labor / Zichella, Lucio; F., Fraioli; L., Carilli; Perrone, Giuseppina; A., Fabbri; A., Santoro; C., Moretti; Pancheri, P. - In: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0306-4530. - 10:3(1985), pp. 289-301. [10.1016/0306-4530(85)90006-x]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/404066
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