title: Adrenergic stimulation of placental progesterone production.
abstract: Cells from term human placentas were maintained in culture, and progesterone production was monitored over 24 h. The beta 1-adrenergic receptor agonist dobutamine (10(-5) M) and the beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist terbutaline (10(-5) M) increased progesterone production by 36 +/- 19% and 49 +/- 8% (+/- SE), respectively, compared with that in controls (P less than 0.001). Propranolol (10(-5) M) completely blocked the stimulatory effects of both drugs. The cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP (0.5 mM) also significantly altered (increased) progesterone production compared with controls (P less than 0.001), but this effect was not blocked to a significant degree by propranolol. The alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist methoxamine (10(-4) - 10(-6) M) did not significantly alter placental progesterone production compared with controls, and the stimulatory effect of terbutaline on progesterone production was not significantly affected by blockade of the alpha-adrenergic receptor with phentolamine. These data indicate that placental progesterone production can be significantly modulated by stimulation of beta-adrenergic, but not by alpha-adrenergic, receptors. This response may be mediated by increased intracellular cAMP. These findings may be important in considering other metabolic functions of the placenta as well as the treatment of preterm labor.
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008729:Methoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D004280:Dobutamine; D011374:Progesterone; D011433:Propranolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D008729:Methoxamine; D013726:Terbutaline; D010646:Phentolamine