title: Arachidonic acid metabolites and the regulation of placental and other vascular tone during pregnancy.
abstract: The eicosanoids are ubiquitous metabolites of arachidonic acid that possess an array of biological actions including marked vasoactivity. They are produced in significant quantities by the fetus, chorion, amnion, placenta, and maternal vascular tissues, and they have many important functions in the development and maintenance of normal vascular tone in human gestation. Imbalances in the production of certain eicosanoids may lead to failure of appropriate fetal growth and development, as well as to certain maternal vasoconstrictive disorders, such as preeclampsia. There is evidence that the eicosanoids have powerful vascular effects on both sides of the placental circulation, so it is likely that the control of blood flow in this vascular bed is largely dependent on eicosanoid metabolites. Current knowledge of production, regulation and physiologic actions of the lipoxygenase metabolites as they relate to pregnancy is in the embryonic stage of development. It will be necessary to learn more about the factors that regulate both eicosanoid production and action before a better understanding of the complexities involved in the control of the placental circulation will be achieved.
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012212:Rheology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid