Serum angiogenin levels in the female from birth to postmenopause

This study investigated serum angiogenin levels of the potent angiogenic fa ctor angiogenin, during fetal and neonatal Life, childhood, adulthood, preg nancy and postmenopause and compared them with respective levels in age-mat ched males, Serum angiogenin levels were measured by an enzyme immunoassay in 139 healthy male and female subjects, allocated in the above six groups, Multiple linear regression applied (a) for both genders and (b) only for f emales showed serum angiogenin levels in adults to differ statistically hig hly significantly from levels in cord blood (P = 0.0001), neonates (P = 0.0 001), children (P = 0.0001), and pregnant women (P = 0.01), but not from "e lderly" subjects (P = 0.80), A significant difference existed between level s in the proliferative and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle (P = 0.00 6), Furthermore, a significant trend for serum angiogenin levels,vith advan cing age groups was noted (P = 0.0001), In conclusion, serum angiogenin lev els increase significantly from fetal life to adulthood, possibly implying additional biological functions to that of angiogenesis.