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A Mathematical Model Relating Pitocin Use during Labor with Offspring Autism Development in terms of Oxytocin Receptor Desensitization in the Fetal Brain
Author
Source
Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2019, Issue 2019 (31 Dec. 2019), pp.1-13, 13 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2019-07-11
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
13
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
This paper develops a mathematical model describing the potential buildup of high oxytocin concentrations in the maternal circulation during labor in terms of continuous Pitocin infusion rate, half-life, and maternal weight.
Oxytocin override of the degradation of oxytocin by placental oxytocinase is introduced to model the potential transfer of oxytocin from the maternal circulation across the placenta into the fetal circulation and from there into the brain of the fetus.
The desensitization unit D equal to 1.8E6 (pg·min)/ml is employed to establish a desensitization threshold and by extension, a downregulation threshold as a function of oxytocin override concentration and continuous Pitocin infusion time, that could be a factor in the subsequent development of autism among offspring.
Epidemiological studies by Duke University [1], Yale University [2], and Harvard University [3] are discussed regarding Pitocin use and offspring autism development for an explanation of the weak correlations they identified.
The findings of the Harvard epidemiological study are reinterpreted regarding Pitocin use and its conclusion questioned.
Further evaluations of the findings of these three epidemiological studies are called for to incorporate medical information on quantity of Pitocin used, continuous Pitocin infusion rate, length of labor, and maternal weight to determine if a correlation can be established with offspring autism development above an empirically determined desensitization threshold for Pitocin use.
Suggestions for research are discussed, including an alternative to continuous Pitocin infusion, pulsatile infusion of Pitocin during labor induction, which may mitigate possible offspring autism development.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Gottlieb, Mark M.. 2019. A Mathematical Model Relating Pitocin Use during Labor with Offspring Autism Development in terms of Oxytocin Receptor Desensitization in the Fetal Brain. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine،Vol. 2019, no. 2019, pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1130735
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Gottlieb, Mark M.. A Mathematical Model Relating Pitocin Use during Labor with Offspring Autism Development in terms of Oxytocin Receptor Desensitization in the Fetal Brain. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine No. 2019 (2019), pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1130735
American Medical Association (AMA)
Gottlieb, Mark M.. A Mathematical Model Relating Pitocin Use during Labor with Offspring Autism Development in terms of Oxytocin Receptor Desensitization in the Fetal Brain. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine. 2019. Vol. 2019, no. 2019, pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1130735
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1130735