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Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kuhn, CM; Schanberg, SM; Field, T; Symanski, R; Zimmerman, E; Scafidi, F; Roberts, J
Published in: J Pediatr
September 1991

The purpose of our study was to investigate the neuroendocrine response in preterm infants to a pattern of tactile-kinesthetic stimulation that facilitates their growth and development. Preterm infants (mean gestational age 30 weeks, mean birth weight 1176 gm) received normal nursery care or tactile-kinesthetic stimulation for three 15-minute periods at the start of three consecutive hours each day for 10 days. On day 1 and day 10 of the study, a 24-hour urine sample was collected for norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, cortisol, and creatinine assay and a blood sample was taken by heel stick for cortisol and growth hormone assay. Urine norepinephrine and epinephrine values increased significantly only in the stimulated babies. Urine dopamine and cortisol values increased in both groups, and serum growth hormone decreased in both groups. Individual differences in urine norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and cortisol values were highly stable across the 10 days despite a 10-fold range of values among the infants. The results of this study suggest that tactile-kinesthetic stimulation of preterm infants has fairly specific effects on maturation and/or activity of the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, this study has defined catecholamine and cortisol secretion across gestational age in normal preterm infants. Finally, these data suggest that highly stable individual levels of catecholamine and cortisol secretion are established by birth in humans.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

September 1991

Volume

119

Issue

3

Start / End Page

434 / 440

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Reference Values
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Pediatrics
  • Norepinephrine
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Hydrocortisone
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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MLA
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Kuhn, C. M., Schanberg, S. M., Field, T., Symanski, R., Zimmerman, E., Scafidi, F., & Roberts, J. (1991). Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants. J Pediatr, 119(3), 434–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(05)82059-1
Kuhn, C. M., S. M. Schanberg, T. Field, R. Symanski, E. Zimmerman, F. Scafidi, and J. Roberts. “Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants.J Pediatr 119, no. 3 (September 1991): 434–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(05)82059-1.
Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM, Field T, Symanski R, Zimmerman E, Scafidi F, et al. Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants. J Pediatr. 1991 Sep;119(3):434–40.
Kuhn, C. M., et al. “Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants.J Pediatr, vol. 119, no. 3, Sept. 1991, pp. 434–40. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(05)82059-1.
Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM, Field T, Symanski R, Zimmerman E, Scafidi F, Roberts J. Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation effects on sympathetic and adrenocortical function in preterm infants. J Pediatr. 1991 Sep;119(3):434–440.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Pediatr

DOI

ISSN

0022-3476

Publication Date

September 1991

Volume

119

Issue

3

Start / End Page

434 / 440

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Reference Values
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Pediatrics
  • Norepinephrine
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Hydrocortisone