title: Prostacyclin-like activity in umbilical arteries is dose-dependently reduced by maternal smoking and related to nicotine levels.
abstract: The influence of maternal smoking on the formation of prostacyclin-like activity in human umbilical arteries was studied in 84 unselected term deliveries. In arteries from infants of nonsmoking mothers the prostacyclin-like activity measured by a bioassay technique amounted to 81 +/- 37 ng/g (mean +/- SD), and in those from smokers to 67 +/- 35 ng/g (p less than 0.05). When smokers were divided into those smoking 10 cigarettes daily or more and those smoking 1-9 cigarettes per day, only arteries of infants of the heavier smokers showed a significantly reduced prostacyclin-like activity (56 +/- 27 ng/g; p less than 0.02). Nicotine and cotinine levels were weakly inversely correlated to prostacyclin-like activity (p less than 0.05). Reduced prostacyclin production in umbilical arteries implies reduced capacity for vasodilation and lowered defence against fetal hypoxia in heavy smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahlsten
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ewald
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuvemo
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D009538:Nicotine; D011464:Epoprostenol; D003367:Cotinine