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Biomedical subjects

G Gennser

Publications and source records attributed to G Gennser.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Pituitary hormone levels in plasma of the human fetus after administration of LRH.

The concentrations of hFSH, hLH/hCG, hGH, and hTSH1 were measured in maternal and fetal blood during the second trimester of pregnancy before and after the administration of 10 mug LRH to 9 fetuses. A comparison was performed with 9 control fetuses not receiving LRH. The initial value of hFSH was significantly higher in female than in male fetuses (P less than 0.01) and in both sexes exceeded the low maternal hFSH level. A similar fetomaternal difference existed also for plasma hGH, in contrast to plasma hLH/hCG, which concentration was higher in maternal than in fetal blood LRH did not cause any change of circulating hFSH, hLH/hCG, and hTSH levels in the fetus 10 min after its administration. A rise of fetal hGH levels occurred during the observation time irrespective of LRH administration. In amniotic fluid, the hFSH concentration accorded with that in fetal blood, and the hLH/hCG concentration with that in maternal blood. The fetal plasma levels of these pituitary hormones suggest selective release mechanisms for the various peptides. The causes of the absent response of blood gonadotropin levels to LRH in the fetus are discussed.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1976

New ultrasonic device for monitoring foetal breathing movements.

Ultrasonography is the accepted method of choice for registering foetal breathing movements in man. The conventional apparatus hitherto used for this purpose is disadvantageous and could yield misleading artefacts. A new differential echoscope has been designed and developed especially for recording intrauterine foetal movements. It allows a simultaneous registration of movements of two foetal structures: the proximal and distal thoracic wall, or the foetal heart and the thoracic wall. It is equipped with two alternately emitting transducers, each with a repetition frequency of 150 HZ, and an intensity-modulated display of the triggering echoes within the gates. Time-to-volgate converters transform the movements of two gated echoes into electrical signals. An internal differential circuit produces on-line recordings of the true difference between movements of the two selected echoes. This device will appreciably facilitate the selection of proper echoes and reduce signal artefacts during foetal monitoring. Various errors and pitfalls in measuring foetal breathing movements are discussed.

Amplifiers, Electronic↗
PubMed1976

Plasma cortisol levels in human fetus during parturition.

In several mammalian species, the fetal adrenal cortex plays an important role in the spontaneous onset of labor. No conclusive evidence has yet been presented that a similar mechanism is active in humans. Although in some previous studies the cortisol concentration in human cord blood has been found higher after spontaneous labor than after induced labor, it has not been possible to determine whether this rise in the fetal cortisol level precedes the onset of parturition or is a consequence of labor. In the present study, starting at the earliest possible stage of labor, fetal scalp blood samples were taken sequentially during 16 spontaneous and 13 induced vaginal deliveries. Cortisol levels in these 2 goups of samples were compared with each other and also with cord blood cortisol levels in 11 patients undergoing elective cesarean section. The initial fetal cortisol levels did not differ between groups with different modes of labor onset. A pronounced rise of plasma cortisol levels occurred during labor in simultaneously sampled maternal and fetal blood. These results do not support the concept of a role for the fetal adrenal cortex in the initiation of labor in humans; they invalidate the use of cortisol concentration in cord blood for the estimation of prelabor fetal cortisol level. The origin of the cortisol surge in fetal plasma during labor and also whether the fetal adrenocortical function responds to the stress of labor are discussed. It is concluded that the rise of fetal cortisol levels during labor might mainly be a reflection of the maternal response to stress.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1975

Noradrenaline synthesis in human fetal heart.

The capacity of noradrenaline synthesis was investigated in 6 isolated human fetal hearts (13-23 gestational week). The mean rate of transforming perfused labelled tyrosine to noradrenaline in atrial, ventricular, and mediastinal tissue was 0.175, 0.168, and 0.108 mug/g tissue/h, respectively.

Fetal Heart↗
PubMed1975

Maternal smoking and fetal breathing movements.

Pregnant, habitually smoking women were studied during the last trimester when smoking a standard cigarette, smoking a nontobacco cigarette, or chewing a piece of chewing gum containing 2 or 4 mg. of nicotine. The effects of the experimental interventions were followed on the concentration of nicotine and the percentage of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in maternal blood, on the amount and pattern of the fetal breathing movements, and on the maternal heart rate, breathing rate, and blood glucose level. The maternal blood concentration of nicotine was increased by the standard cigarette, the 4 mg. nicotine chewing gum, and the 2 mg. nicotine chewing gum in descending order. The COHb percentage in maternal blood was increased by the standard cigarette and to a lower degree by the nontobacco cigarette. A significant increase of apnea and periodic breathing movements in the fetus followed the smoking of a standard cigarette; a similar but nonsignificant change occurred in a dose-related way after the 4 mg. and the 2 mg. chewing gum. The maternal heart rate was positively correlated to the level of blood breathing movements occurring after smoking one standard cigarette. The suppression of the fetal breathing movements in utero poses the question whether iterated maternal smoking might influence the prenatal assessment of fetal maturity using determination of pulmonary surfactants in the amniotic fluid.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Influence on fetal carbohydrate and fat metabolism and on acid-base balance of glucose administration to the mother during labour.

Parturients during normal labour were given glucose. The maternal-fetal difference of glucose increased with increasing maternal glucose level. Glucose load caused a rapid early response of maternal insulin release. A parallel rise in plasma lactate and pyruvate occurred in both fetus and mother. The basal maternal hydroxybutyrate and glycerol concentrations decreased significantly during glucose load. The study demonstrated that at term, components of lipid metabolism in fetal and maternal plasma-in contrast to glucose -vary independently. No major disturbances of the fetal acid-base balance were found.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1975

Intravascular coagulation in pregnancy--treatment with heparin.

Two pregnant women with a history of miscarriages or premature labour are described. In the 25-27th week of pregnancy routine examinations showed high levels of FDP in serum. Subsequent extensive coaggulation studies revealed a positive ethanol gelation test, low levels of firbrinogen, plasminogen, alpha2-macroglobulin and P&P and high level of AHF related protein for the stage of pregnancy, i.e. finding indicating abnormal proteolysis with activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system. Continuous intravenous heparin treatment caused the coagulation system to return to normal throughout the rest of pregnancy. Both women gave birth to healthy babies without any complications. But the placenta showed numerous infarcts. The heparin treatment may have prevented later developing of placental dysfunction.

Adult↗