No abstract

Abstract-Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogues, was originally isolated from rat stomach.It stimulates the release of growth hormone from primary pituitary cell cultures. We investigated the plasma concentration of ghrelin peptide in 16 nonpregnant women, 18 normal pregnant women, 20 patients with pregnancyinduced hypertension, and 10 postpartum women. The plasma concentration of ghrelin in nonpregnant women was 239.5Ϯ16.9 fmol/mL. The plasma concentration of ghrelin in normal pregnant women at the third trimester was 127.1Ϯ5.6 fmol/mL. There was negative correlation between plasma ghrelin concentration and systemic blood pressure in normal pregnant women (systolic: rϭϪ0.564, PϽ0.05; diastolic: rϭϪ0.610, PϽ0.01). Pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (177.9Ϯ14.6 fmol/mL, PϽ0.05) also had significantly higher levels of ghrelin compared with those of normal pregnant women. In addition, there was a significant correlation between plasma ghrelin levels and systemic blood pressure (systolic: rϭϪ0.482, PϽ0.05; diastolic: rϭϪ0.466, PϽ0.05