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Horm Metab Res 1985; 17(6): 308-310
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013526
Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Oxytocin in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Pregnant and Nonpregnant Subjects

T. Takagi, O. Tanizawa, Y. Otsuki, N. Sugita, M. Haruta1 , K. Yamaji2
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan
  • 1The Nissei Hospital, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
  • 2College of Biomedical Technology and Nursing, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1983

1984

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

The oxytocin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of pregnant women at term with and without labor pain were measured by radioimmunoassay and compared with those of non-pregnant women of matched age.

The oxytocin concentrations in the CSF were 4.9 ± 4.1 μU/ml (mean ± S.D.) in pregnant women with labor pain, 4.1 ± 2.4 μU/ml in those without labor pain and 4.0 ± 2.8 μU/ml in nonpregnant women, and the oxytocin concentrations in the plasma of these subjects were 45.2 ± 19.6, 17.1 ± 22.2 and 7.0 ± 5.3 μU/ml, respectively.

Thus the oxytocin level in the CSF did not change appreciably even when the level in the plasma was raised in the pregnant women with labor pain. These findings suggest that oxytocin does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and that oxytocin in the CFS has little or no central role in parturition in women.

Key-Words:

Oxytocin - Radioimmunoassay - CSF - Plasma - Parturition

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