Plasma Neuropeptide Y Level in Neonates with Asphyxia

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and β Endorphin (β EP) levels in neonates with asphyxia and to explore the relationship between the two indexes and the degrees of asphyxia, as well the post asphyxia brain damage.METHODS: The plasma levels of NPY and β EP were measured in 37 asphyxia and 12 normal neonates by radio immunoassay. The cerebral CT scan was taken and the CT values were measured. RESULTS: The plasma levels of NPY and β EP in the severe asphyxia neonates were much higher than those of the normal ones [( 1.85 ± 1.10 ) μg/L vs ( 0.04 ± 0.03 ) μg/L and ( 2.03 ± 1.45 ) μg/L vs ( 0.06 ± 0.04 ) μg/L respectively; P< 0.01 ]; also higher than those of the mild ones [( 0.47 ± 0.38 ) and ( 0.34 ± 0.33 ) μg/L respectively] (P< 0.01 ). There were significant differences in the levels of NPY and β EP between the mild asphyxia neonates and the normal neonates (P< 0.01 ). The CT values of the mild and severe asphyxia neonates [( 15.60 ± 2.20 ) and ( 13.08 ± 2.18 ) Hu] were obviously lower than that of the normal neonates [( 20.16 ± 2.66 ) Hu] (P< 0.01 ). The CT value of the severe asphyxia neonates group was obviously lower than that of the mild ones (P< 0.01 ). A positive correlation was found between NPY and β EP levels in the severe asphyxia neonates (r= 0.4220 ,P< 0.01 ). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma levels of NPY and β EP and cerebral CT value were closely related with the degrees of asphyxia. The more severe the asphyxia , the higher the plasma levels of NPY and β EP, and the lower the CT value. The plasma NPY and β EP may be used as the markers in evaluating the degrees of neonatal asphyxia and post asphyxia brain damage.