Prostaglandin Production and Contractile Response of Umbilical Arteries in Preeclamptic Pregnancies with and Without Intrauterine Growth Retardation

ABSTRACT

Biochemical and biophysical properties of umbilical arteries from normotensiveand preeclamptic pregnancies were examined. The production of prostaglandins E and F, 6-keto-PGF_1α, and thromboxane B₂ by umbilical arteries from normotensive, mildly preeclamptic, and severely preeclamptic pregnancies were measured in incubation media at baseline and after addition of arachidonic acid. The initial baseline values of 6-keto-PGF_1α were decreased in the severely preeclamptic patients with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) but not in any of the other groups. Addition of arachidonic acid resulted in a significant increase in 6-keto-PGF_1α production over initial baseline in all groups except in the severely preeclamptic pregnancies without IUGR. These results suggest a differential defect in the 6-keto-PGF_1α metabolic pathway in severely preeclamptic patients with IUGR compared with those without IUGR. The stretch response curve to serotonin was decreased in the severely preeclamptic group with IUGR compared with the control group. The contractile response to individual vasoactive agents (serotonin, prostaglandin F₂, norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and arachidonic acid) showed no significant difference between the normotensive and preeclamptic groups.