A comparison of endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactivity and sodium transport inhibitory activity in umbilical arterial and venous serum

1. Endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactivity (EDLI) was measured by radioimmunoassay for digoxin in 13 paired samples of arterial and venous umbilical cord serum. EDLI was present in vein and artery, but was higher in the venous samples (P < 0.025).

2. The venous cord serum inhibited the ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant of a normal mixed leucocyte population when compared with the effect of arterial cord serum (P < 0.005).

3. It is suggested that the placenta may be involved in the production or metabolism of neonatal EDLI and of the inhibitor of sodium transport.