# Adrenergic effect on women’s blood neutrophil oxidative activity the first day after delivery

## TL;DR

This study explores how adrenergic activity affects neutrophil oxidative activity in women on the first day after childbirth, linking it to postpartum infection risks.

## Contribution

The study reveals the role of alpha-1-adrenergic receptors in postpartum neutrophil activity and their impact on oxidative stress.

## Key findings

- Neutrophil activity decreases during pregnancy and childbirth but increases postpartum.
- Alpha-1-adrenergic receptors are highly active in postpartum neutrophils, influencing oxygen species formation.
- Stress in the postpartum period may suppress neutrophil radical activity, increasing infection risk.

## Abstract

Recent studies have described a significant role for neutrophils in
reproductive processes and their participation in the preparation of the
cervix for childbirth and the activation of labor, in the postpartum
involution of the uterus, and in the occurrence of preeclampsia. This study
aimed to assess the formation of free radicals by neutrophils in the blood
of women on the first day after childbirth and to characterize the
adrenergic effect on this process.

Venous blood samples from 100 female volunteers aged 26-32 years who had 2 or
3 full-term deliveries were collected and analyzed. Various adrenergic
compounds were considered (agonists alphaand betaadrenoreceptors,
adrenoblockers). The intensity of the respiratory burst of neutrophils and
the effect of adrenergic substances on them were assessed with latex-induced
luminol-dependent chemiluminescence.

Neutrophil activity depends on the stage of the woman’s reproductive process:
it decreases during pregnancy, reaches the lowest values during childbirth,
and increases significantly in the first hours after childbirth. On the
first day after childbirth, alpha-1-adrenergic receptors are highly active
in neutrophils, through which NADP-H-oxidase is activated and activated
oxygen species are formed. At the same time, alphaor beta-agonists inhibit
the radical activity of cells.

Latex-induced oxidative burst of female blood neutrophils correlates with the
stage of the reproductive process. Stressful conditions in the postpartum
period can suppress the ability of neutrophils to release reactive oxygen
species, which increases the risk of postpartum infections.