All issues > Volume 29(9); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(9):940-947. Published online September 30, 1986.

Endogenous Digoxin-like Substance in Neonatal Serum, Pregnant Women and Placental Extracts.

Heon Seob Song¹, In Soo Choi¹, Dae Yeol Lee¹, Jung Soo Kim¹, Chang Beom Shin¹, Yong Bae Shin¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School

Abstract

To digoxin-like substance, the authers tried to confirm the presence of this substance in cord blood, sera from premature and full-term infants, third trimester pregnant women not receiving digoxin, and placental extracts, and to investigate the origin and potential physiologic role of DLS, endogenous Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor in relation to renin activity. The results were as follows; 1) Cord sera DLS values were significantly higher than those of maternal sera, and maternal sera DLS values were significantly higher than those of adult controls. 2) There were significant correlations of DLS values between mother and baby paired sera, placental extracts and corresponding cord sera, too. 3) There were no significant correlations between DLS values from placental extracts and placental renin activities, DLS values from cord plasma and cord plasma renin activities, too. 4) After birth, DLS values decreased progressively with distinct peak, but significant levels were detected at 2 weeks of age. These results suggest that DLS probably originated from fetus near term, neonates and or placenta. The biochemical identity and its possible physiological significance need further study.

Keywords :Endogenous digoxin-like substance.