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Melatonin is well known for its role in the sleep-wake cycle and is synthesised in response to low light levels from the pineal gland. In our previous study it was found that serum melatonin levels increased dramatically during pregnancy, such that levels were up to 100 fold higher in the third trimester compared to healthy non-pregnant women. The placenta contains the enzymes which are involved in synthesising melatonin but it is unclear if this is the source of the high levels in pregnancy. Severe pre-eclampsia has been reported to be associated with low levels of melatonin. In this study its is proposed to measure serum melatonin immediately before and after delivery and in cord blood and relate the levels to those in the placenta itself. This will contribute to the potential role for melatonin as a biomarker for obstetric disease and potentially as a therapeutic agent in future. This observational pilot study aims to measure serum and placental melatonin levels (as the major metabolite 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate) in pregnant women undergoing elective Caesarean section.
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The study is sponsored by University of Aberdeen and is in collaboration with NHS Grampian.
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