A preliminary evaluation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels in cerebrospinal fluid across various gestational ages and clinical conditions of the neonate

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels in newborns' umbilical cord blood and cerebrospinal fluid across various perinatal growth parameters and clinical conditions.

Methods: Cord blood from 20 newborns and 58 residual CSF samples (stored after completion of clinical testing) were collected. GDNF levels were determined using GDNF ELISA kits from R&D Systems in triplicates with appropriate controls to eliminate background.

Results: Cord blood GDNF levels were significantly higher (p=0.004) in preterm newborns (n=6) (115.05±57.17,pg/ml) when compared to term newborns (n=14) (19.67±10.67,pg/ml). GDNF levels in CSF trended (p=0.07) higher in term newborns (n=10) (19.56±9.11,pg/ml) when compared to preterm newborns at term or post term corrected gestational ages (n=5) (14.49±3.53,pg/ml).

Conclusions: GDNF levels in preterm newborns were higher in cord blood and lower in CSF as compared to term newborns. It is important to further study circulating and CSF-GDNF levels in newborns at different gestational ages and clinical conditions.

Keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); Gestational age (GA); Glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF); Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH); Prematurity.