J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2002 Nov;9(2):198-203.

A Study on Correlation Among Cord Blood Arachidonic Acid Level, Birth Weight, and Placental Weight

• Lee DC
• Kang SM
• Heo J
• Yu JH
• Byun SH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Arachidonic acid is known to have effects on cell growth as a controller of cell proliferation and a stimulator of platelet derived growth factor. We investigated the correlations among birth weight, placental weight and free arachidonic acid level in cord blood.
METHODS
Twenty full-term well babies were included in this study. Those who had sepsis, IUGR, twin that may affect the level of arachidonic acid, birth weight, and/or placental weight were excluded. Free arachidonic acid level were measured by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry. (GC-MS) Correlation Pearson Coefficients were used for statistical analyses.
RESULTS
The correlation coefficients between birth weight and placental weight, birth weight and arachidonic acid level, and placental weight and arachidonic acid level were 0.727 (P<0.001), 0.440 (P>0.05), 0.407 (P>0.05) respectively.
CONCLUSION
There was statistically significant positive correlation between birth weight and placental weight. But since cord blood free arachidonic acid levels were not correlated with placental weight and birth weight, we conclude that cord blood free arachidonic acid level has no effects on fetal growth and placental growth.

Keyword

Arachidonic acid; birth weight; placental weight

MeSH Terms

Arachidonic Acid*
Birth Weight*
Cell Proliferation
Fetal Blood*
Fetal Development
Fetal Growth Retardation
Humans
Parturition*
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
Sepsis
Spectrum Analysis
Arachidonic Acid
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor