The decline in serum choline concentration in humans during and after surgery is associated with the elevation of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin and β-endorphin concentrations

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 324; no. 1; pp. 41 - 44
• Main Authors: Özarda İlçöl, Yeşim, Özyurt, Gürayten, Kılıcturgay, Sadık, Uncu, Gurkan, Ulus, İsmail H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 10-05-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - metabolism; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; beta-Endorphin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Choline; Choline - blood; Cortisol; Down-Regulation - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Hormone interactions. Hormone actions on several organ systems. Adaptive reactions; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Male; Neurosecretory Systems - metabolism; Neurosecretory Systems - physiopathology; Postoperative Complications - blood; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Prolactin; Prolactin - blood; Stress; Stress, Physiological - blood; Stress, Physiological - etiology; Stress, Physiological - physiopathology; Surgery; Synaptic Transmission - physiology; Up-Regulation - physiology; Vertebrates: endocrinology; β-Endorphin; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Prolactin; Choline; Surgery; Cortisol; β-Endorphin; Stress; Human; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Neuropeptide; Opioid peptide; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Adrenal hormone; Serum
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00171-4

Serum choline concentrations decrease during and after surgery. We undertook this study to determine whether the decrease of choline is associated with an increase in stress hormones. In 16 patients undergoing abdominal surgery with general anesthesia, circulating choline cortisol, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin levels were measured before, during and after surgery. Choline levels decreased by 41% (
P<0.01) during surgery, remained 15–38% decreased for 48 h, and returned to preoperative values 72 h after surgery. The decrease in serum choline was associated and inversely correlated with the increase in serum cortisol (
P<0.001;
r=−0.642), prolactin (
P<0.001;
r=−0.756), β-endorphin (
P<0.001;
r=−0.726) and ACTH (
P<0.01;
r=−0.458). In conclusion, we found that abdominal surgery induces a decline in serum choline associated with an increase in circulating cortisol, prolactin, ACTH and β-endorphin.