Perinatal biochemistry

The work done and reviewed by Greengard is very well known and, of course, does not need repetition. Thus, / shall confine myself to some aspects of perinatal biochemistry which seem to have a more direct relation with brain damage. 

I will first comment briefly on a vividly important and peculiar aspect of neonatal biochemistry, that of inborn errors of metabolism. The bibliography on inborn errors has been extremely large in the last years and I will not attempt to summarize this increasingly interesting material. I should only like to present some brief reflections about mass screening and research on inborn alterations before focusing our attention on the most relevant features of perinatal biochemistry. 

It may be emphasized that in perinatal biochemistry there are some events that occur physiologically during a very restricted period of time. This is especially true in the moment of birth and during the first days or even hours, when the capacity for adaptation to autonomous life is more dramatically required and expressed for example, the concentration of triglycerides in human blood is 40.02 18.64 mg/100 ml at birth and 62.12 25.63 after 6 hours. ... 

It is necessary to go deeper into perinatal biochemistry and, urgently, in the study of the moment of birth. As I mentioned above, more than 50% of the cases of mentally retarded children could be prevented and this represents a dramatic incentive for a more thorough investigation. 

Certainly, perinatal biochemistry is an exciting and recently born subject. A long gestation has been necessary until the development of physiology and biochemistry made the birth possible some years ago. I infer from the aspects pinpointed above that we may now conclude that the newborn is growing well and rapidly, and that it wilt undoubtedly have a magnificent future. 

Innis, S.M. Perinatal biochemistry and physiology of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. J. Pediatr. 2003, 143, S1-S8. 

Farabollini, R, Porrini, S., and Dessi-Fulgheri, F. (1999). Perinatal exposure to the estrogenic pollutant Bisphenol A affects behavior in male and female rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 64, 687-694. 

Morin L, Cendron M, Crombleholme M et al (1996) Minimal hydronephrosis in the fetus clinical significance and implications for management. J Urol 155 2047-2049 Mouriquand PDE, Troisfontaines E, Wilcox DT (1999) Antenatal and perinatal uronephrology current questions and dilemmas. Pediatr Nephrol 13 938-944 Muller F, Dommerguez M, Mandelbrot L (1993) Fetal urinary biochemistry predicts postnatal renal function in children with bilateral obstructive uropathies. Obstet Gynecol 82 813-820... 

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