The effect of adult hemoglobin on red blood cell nitric oxide levels during fetal development

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of S-nitrosohemoglobin (HbSNO) at different gestational ages in newborn infants and correlate the levels of HbSNO with HbA and HbF. METHOD: Cord blood samples of 22 newborn infants of different gestational ages (25-41 weeks) were analyzed. The levels of HbF and HbA were determined by HPLC and of HbSNO by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: The level of HbSNO varied from 28.1 to 145.3 nM. There was a significant correlation with gestational age (r(2) = 0.5469, p < 0.0001) and with the relative amount of HbA (r(2) = 0.8144, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The increases in HbSNO in fetal red cells is directly related to the relative amount of HbA.