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The Role of IGF-1 and Ghrelin in the Compensation of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner, MD, DSc

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

George Mastorakos, MD, DSc

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Theodora Boutsikou, MD, DSc

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Demetrios Hassiakos, MD, DSc

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Ioannis Papassotiriou, PhD

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece

Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein, MD, DSc

First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece, ganten{at}hol.gr

The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and ghrelin in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) neonates in comparison to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) ones was investigated. Levels of IGF-1/insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol were determined in 20 singleton, full-term IUGR and 20 respective AGA neonates at birth (umbilical cord-UC), on days 1 (d1) and 4 (d4) postnatally. The ratio of IGF-1 to birth weight was higher in IUGR than in AGA in both UC (18.2 ± 1.2 vs14.4 ± 0.9, P = .05) and d1 (9.6 ± 0.5 vs 6.8 ± 0.3, P = .05). A significant positive correlation was found between IGF-1 and ghrelin levels and a negative one between IGFBP3 and ghrelin only in IUGR. In both groups, fetal IGF-1 levels negatively correlated with fetal cortisol levels. Intrauterine growth restricted neonates demonstrate a relative IGF-1 resistance in an attempt to drive energy toward survival on the expense of growth. The observed correlations between ghrelin and IGF-1/IGFBP3 postnatally indicate that ghrelin might play a role in the compensation of intrauterine undernutrition, promoting postnatal growth.

Key Words: IGF-I • ghrelin • intrauterine growth restriction • IUGR.

This version was published on December 1, 2009

Reproductive Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1193-1200 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1933719109344629


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