AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 239, Issue 5 385-E390, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Perinatal parathyroid hormone, vitamin D metabolites, and calcitonin in man

P. Wieland, J. A. Fischer, U. Trechsel, H. R. Roth, K. Vetter, H. Schneider and A. Huch

Plasma levels of calcium and of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were comparable in the mothers at delivery and in nonpregnant controls; magnesium was decreased (P < 0.001) in maternal blood; and phosphate (P < 0.001), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) (P < 0.001), and calcitonin (CT) (P < 0.01) were raised. Cord levels of calcium (P < 0.01), magnesium (P < 0.05), and CT (P < 0.01) were higher, and PTH (P < 0.01) was lower than in the maternal blood. Levels of 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, and 24,25(OH)2D lower in fetal than in maternal blood (P < 0.01) and significant linear correlations between the vitamin D metabolites examined in mothers and neonates (P < 0.001) are consistent with a diffusion barrier across the placenta and/or different affinities of binding proteins. Plasma levels of 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D were significantly related (P < 0.01), suggesting precursor product type, relationships. Levels of 1,25(OH)2D higher in arterial than in venous umbilical blood (P = 0.06, sign test; P < 0.005, paired t test) suggest that the fetus participates in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D. Maternal PTH was significantly related to the arteriovenous difference of 1,25(OH)2D levels (P < 0.01) in cord blood, and it possibly enhances the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D during the final stage of fetal development.

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