| Nitric oxide and its role during pregnancy: from ovulation to delivery. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12570814 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Nitric oxide (NO) is a major paracrine mediator and important regulatory agent in various female reproductive processes, such as ovulation, implantation, pregnancy maintenance, labor and delivery. Ovulation: Circulating NO-products are increased during follicle development and decreased right after ovulation. INOS-inhibition results in a 50% reduction of ovulation, an effect completely reversed by an NO. Endometrium/Implantation: NO also regulates endometrial functions such as endometrial receptivity, implantation and menstruation. NO-donors may be useful for promoting fertility, while NO-inhibitors might be used for contraception. Uterine contractility: Throughout gestation myometrial NO-production is upregulated thus contributing to achieve uterine quiescence. Close to term, NO-production decreases promoting effective contractions resulting in labor. Clinical trials have demonstrated that NO-donors are effective tocolytics. Cervical ripening: In contrast to the myometrium, NO-production in the cervix is low during gestation and becomes upregulated once pregnancy advances to term. NO-donors are effective and safe cervical ripening agents. This finding from animal studies has been confirmed by several clinical trials. Vasoreactivity: In blood vessels, NO is a potent vasodilator and platelet-aggregation-inhibitor. Lack of NO during gestation was related to the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. In conclusion, NO-donors and NOS-inhibitors may provide novel, effective, safe, and inexpensive drugs to regulate and steer various functions in female reproductive life. The benefits reach from contraception to preventing possibly lethal pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Introducing NO-donors as tocolytics and cervical ripening agents may contribute to a reduction of fetal and maternal perinatal morbidity and mortality. |
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Authors:
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H Maul; M Longo; G R Saade; R E Garfield |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Current pharmaceutical design Volume: 9 ISSN: 1381-6128 ISO Abbreviation: Curr. Pharm. Des. Publication Date: 2003 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-02-06 Completed Date: 2003-06-25 Revised Date: 2006-02-27 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9602487 Medline TA: Curr Pharm Des Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 359-80 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. rgarfiel@utmb.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Female Humans Nitric Oxide / physiology* Nitric Oxide Synthase / physiology Ovulation / metabolism*, physiology Parturition / metabolism*, physiology Pre-Eclampsia / drug therapy, enzymology, metabolism Pregnancy / physiology* Reproduction / physiology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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10102-43-9/Nitric Oxide; EC 1.14.13.39/Nitric Oxide Synthase |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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