Erythrocytic cation transport receptor numbers and activity in pregnancies complicated by essential hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
Various functions of erythrocytic cation transport were studied in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy (women with pre-eclampsia and essential hypertension). The results showed that in pregnancy there is an increase in the number of erythrocytic glycoside binding sites accompanied by a proportional increase in the active inward transport of rubidium (used as a substitute for potassium). There was no evidence of an effect of pregnancy on intraerythrocytic sodium concentrations. These changes were apparently entirely attributable to pregnancy and not affected by pre-eclampsia or essential hypertension. It is suggested that these alterations indicate an adaptive increase in sodium pump numbers and activity secondary to a tendency for the intraerythrocytic sodium concentration to rise during pregnancy and compensating for that tendency.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D004077:Digoxin; D012964:Sodium; D012413:Rubidium