Document Detail


Nitric oxide and human umbilical vessels: pharmacological and immunohistochemical studies.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  7638109     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Human umbilical vessels are devoid of nerves and therefore endothelial cells may play an important role in the control of fetoplacental blood flow. In this study we examined the pharmacological effects of various substances, known to produce endothelial-mediated vasodilation in many blood vessels, on the human umbilical artery and vein from legal terminations [mean gestational age, 15 (8-17) weeks; n = 12] and normal term vaginal deliveries [mean gestational age, 39 (38-41) weeks; n = 12]. Acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, the calcium ionophore A23187 and substance P had no effect on raised vascular tone, whereas sodium nitroprusside relaxed 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) preconstricted, umbilical artery and vein from both early and late pregnancy. L-NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) had no effect on basal tone or on high tone, after it was raised by 5-HT. Localization of nitric oxide synthase [NOS, type I (neuronal)] was examined in the same umbilical vessels using electron immunocytochemistry. No NOS-immunoreactive endothelial cells were observed in the umbilical vessels taken during early pregnancy. However, the percentage of NOS-immunoreactive endothelial cells in umbilical artery and vein from late pregnancy was 3 and 10 per cent, respectively. These results suggest that nitric oxide contributes little, if any, to the local control of umbilical blood flow throughout pregnancy, despite the presence of NOS-immunoreactivity in a subpopulation of endothelial cells in late pregnancy.
Authors:
A J Sexton; A Loesch; M Turmaine; S Miah; G Burnstock
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Placenta     Volume:  16     ISSN:  0143-4004     ISO Abbreviation:  Placenta     Publication Date:  1995 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-09-11     Completed Date:  1995-09-11     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8006349     Medline TA:  Placenta     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  277-88     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Nitric Oxide / analysis*
Pregnancy
Umbilical Arteries / chemistry,  drug effects*
Umbilical Veins / chemistry,  drug effects*
Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Vasodilator Agents; 10102-43-9/Nitric Oxide

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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