Relationship Between Placenta and Plasma Ghrelin Levels Taken After Birth and Preterm Birth

Relationship Between Placenta and Plasma Ghrelin Levels Taken After Birth and Preterm Birth | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Relationship Between Placenta and Plasma Ghrelin Levels Taken After Birth and Preterm Birth Cihan GUL, Kazım UCKAN, Yusuf BAŞKIRAN, Ezel TAŞDEMİR This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective Preterm birth (PB) poses a major risk for infant mortality and morbidity, particularly in countries with low socioeconomic status. The pathophysiological mechanisms associated with preterm birth have not yet been fully elucidated. Identifying and eliminating the causes will reduce the incidence of preterm birth. In our study, we investigated possible associations between plasma and placental ghrelin levels immediately after birth and preterm birth. Methods A total of 72 volunteers, including 60 women who had given birth to live babies and 12 non-pregnant women, were included in the study. The women who had given birth to live babies were divided into three groups: term (n = 24), early preterm (n = 19), and late preterm (n = 17). Plasma ghrelin levels, blood glucose, arterial blood pressure, body temperature, body weight, height, and body mass index were determined in all groups. In addition, ghrelin content was measured in placental tissue samples from subjects who had given birth. Objective In this study, we aimed to determine placental and plasma ghrelin levels in pregnant women who had preterm births and to investigate their possible relationship with preterm birth. Our findings may contribute to the identification of new strategies in the pathophysiology and treatment of preterm birth and to the reduction of the incidence of preterm birth. Result When looking at anthropometric parameters, women with the lowest body weight and body mass index (BMI) were found to be in the early preterm group (p = 0.001). Plasma and placental ghrelin levels were significantly higher in the early preterm group compared to the other groups (p = 0.001). We found significant correlations between plasma and placental ghrelin levels in all pregnant groups and gestational age, body weight, and birth weight of infants (p = 0.01, R2 = 0.296). Conclusion The significant increase in plasma and placental levels of ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, in women who deliver preterm may indicate that it plays an important role in the pathophysiology of preterm birth. Health sciences/Biomarkers Health sciences/Diseases Health sciences/Endocrinology Health sciences/Health care Health sciences/Medical research Biological sciences/Physiology Ghrelin placenta preterm birth inflammation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 01 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 31 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 18 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 14 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9087615","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":610824256,"identity":"8d350f8d-1581-4d7f-8e33-389906ec01e9","order_by":0,"name":"Cihan GUL","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCh39s5ED0gQdEa0lsSDMGa0kgQcuhxAYQgygt/A3s1yQSdxxInx92+CHQFjs53QYCWiQO8JRJJJ65k7vxdpoBUEuysdkBAloMGHjSJBLYnuVunJ0A0nIgcRuRWg6nG85O/0CsFvZjEolthxPkpXOItEXiMA+zRcKZNMMN0jkFBxIMiPALf3v7wxsfKmzk5Wenb/7wocJOjqAWBmYeA4gLD0DcSQxgfwCm5BuIUj0KRsEoGAUjEQAAi7RGzFOh+CwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Van Yüzüncü Yıl University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cihan","middleName":"","lastName":"GUL","suffix":""},{"id":610824257,"identity":"dcd179d3-33f5-4200-9d07-1e329183f016","order_by":1,"name":"Kazım UCKAN","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Van Education and Research Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kazım","middleName":"","lastName":"UCKAN","suffix":""},{"id":610824258,"identity":"0f34b4af-ddd8-4212-b35a-cca3f94ea66e","order_by":2,"name":"Yusuf BAŞKIRAN","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Istinye University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yusuf","middleName":"","lastName":"BAŞKIRAN","suffix":""},{"id":610824259,"identity":"30cd2c0a-114a-4bad-9b08-4259b324bccc","order_by":3,"name":"Ezel TAŞDEMİR","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Mudanya University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ezel","middleName":"","lastName":"TAŞDEMİR","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-10 20:38:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105564637,"identity":"9c7b2cec-9d31-48f9-b7bc-621fc6f1661a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 12:50:17","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":688734,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"CihangulGhrelinmakaleingilizce13.03.2026.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9087615/v1_covered_23cb82fe-fa28-422d-b1c2-618b304cbb7c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eRelationship Between Placenta and Plasma Ghrelin Levels Taken After Birth and Preterm Birth\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Ghrelin, placenta, preterm birth, inflammation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreterm birth (PB) poses a major risk for infant mortality and morbidity, particularly in countries with low socioeconomic status. The pathophysiological mechanisms associated with preterm birth have not yet been fully elucidated. Identifying and eliminating the causes will reduce the incidence of preterm birth. In our study, we investigated possible associations between plasma and placental ghrelin levels immediately after birth and preterm birth.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 72 volunteers, including 60 women who had given birth to live babies and 12 non-pregnant women, were included in the study. The women who had given birth to live babies were divided into three groups: term (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;24), early preterm (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;19), and late preterm (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;17). Plasma ghrelin levels, blood glucose, arterial blood pressure, body temperature, body weight, height, and body mass index were determined in all groups. In addition, ghrelin content was measured in placental tissue samples from subjects who had given birth.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, we aimed to determine placental and plasma ghrelin levels in pregnant women who had preterm births and to investigate their possible relationship with preterm birth. Our findings may contribute to the identification of new strategies in the pathophysiology and treatment of preterm birth and to the reduction of the incidence of preterm birth.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResult\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen looking at anthropometric parameters, women with the lowest body weight and body mass index (BMI) were found to be in the early preterm group (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001). Plasma and placental ghrelin levels were significantly higher in the early preterm group compared to the other groups (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001). We found significant correlations between plasma and placental ghrelin levels in all pregnant groups and gestational age, body weight, and birth weight of infants (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.01, R2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.296).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe significant increase in plasma and placental levels of ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, in women who deliver preterm may indicate that it plays an important role in the pathophysiology of preterm birth.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Relationship Between Placenta and Plasma Ghrelin Levels Taken After Birth and Preterm Birth","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-24 09:48:54","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9087615/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-01T06:57:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-31T23:27:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"15781827689906406385084360886499836539","date":"2026-03-25T18:43:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-25T18:10:00+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"268096365986833750222365338143697366775","date":"2026-03-25T17:16:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-19T15:27:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-18T10:38:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-14T19:34:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2026-03-14T19:30:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"69c14906-0b8d-4816-9943-65365616f780","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 24th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":65034110,"name":"Health sciences/Biomarkers"},{"id":65034111,"name":"Health sciences/Diseases"},{"id":65034112,"name":"Health sciences/Endocrinology"},{"id":65034113,"name":"Health sciences/Health care"},{"id":65034114,"name":"Health sciences/Medical research"},{"id":65034115,"name":"Biological sciences/Physiology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-20T07:11:16+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-24 09:48:54","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9087615","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9087615","identity":"rs-9087615","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}