@article{3052622,
    title = "Serum leptin concentrations during the perinatal period",
    author = "Sarandakou, A and Protonotariou, E and Rizos, D and Malamitsi-Puchner, A and and Giannaki, G and Phocas, I and Creatsas, G",
    journal = "American Journal of Perinatology",
    year = "2000",
    volume = "17",
    number = "6",
    pages = "325-328",
    publisher = "THIEME MEDICAL PUBL INC",
    issn = "0735-1631, 1098-8785",
    doi = "10.1055/s-2000-13438",
    keywords = "umbilical cord; maternal serum; infant; placenta; birth weight",
    abstract = "We aimed to study maternal and infant serum leptin concentrations during
the perinatal period and their relationship to the body weight of
mothers and newborns. Serum leptin values were measured by enzyme-linked
immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) (R&D systems) in 26 healthy, term
neonates during the first (N1) and fifth (N5) day after birth and were
compared with serum leptin values in maternal blood (MS), amniotic fluid
(AF), and umbilical cord (UC) at delivery. Twenty-five healthy,
nonpregnant women, age and body weight-matched to the mothers, were used
as controls (C). Infant serum leptin concentrations declined
significantly after birth from UC to the N5 samples (p < 0.003). MS
leptin values were significantly higher than UC, N1, N5, and C values (p
< 0.001), while AF values were significantly lower than in controls (p <
0.001). UC, but not MS leptin values correlated significantly with the
birth weight of infants (r = 0.6; p < 0.03). The elevated values of
leptin in maternal serum and the regressing pattern of infant leptin
values after birth suggest an additional, probably placental source of
this protein during pregnancy, possibly contributing to the regulation
of fetal body weight."
}