Affiliations: Chair of Preventive and Social Pediatrics, University
of Rome Tor Vergata, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy | Department of Pediatrics, University of Sassari,
School of Medicine, Sassari, Italy
Note: [] Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Diagnostica per Immagini,
Facolt\`a di Medicina, Via della ricerca scientifica, snc, 00133 Roma, Italy.
Tel.: +39 6 72596030; Fax: +39 6 72596028; E-mail: bottini@med.uniroma2.it
Abstract: Based on the hypothesis that maternal-fetal genetic differences in
membrane transport and signal transduction may influence intrauterine
development, the recent acquisition on transport function of Rh protein
prompted us to study the relationship between joint maternal-fetal Rh phenotype
and birth weight. Considering that metabolic effect of maternal-fetal
competition could be amplified by environmental conditions, we have
investigated possible seasonal effects on such relationship. We have studied 5291 infants born in Sardinia in the period January
1993--December 1996 and 984 infants born in Rome during 1996. In Rh(-) mothers there is a significant
association between season of birth and birth weight that shows the highest
mean value in infants born in autumn (i.e. conceived in winter). The
association is much more evident in male than in female infants. In male
infants from Rh(-) mothers, the association between birth
weight and season is significant in Rh(+) male newborns
only. Recent observations by our group in NIDDM suggest that glucose
transport in RBC may be related to D protein, thus we propose an interpretation
of the present observation in terms of transport function. When the density of
D protein in the infant is greater than in the mother, the balance is in favour
of the infant who may attain a significant developmental advantage when
conceived in the cold season.
