Blood pressure and pressor response to angiotensin II during pregnancy and nursing in the rabbit.
A continuous study to determine blood pressure and pressor response to angiotensin II (A-2) during pregnancy and postpartum was performed in a chronic rabbit preparation. The resting blood pressure during pregnancy was found to be lower than that in the postpartum period. Pressor response to A-2 was diminished during pregnancy and during nursing, but in the absence of nursing, this response returned to normal values by 1 week postpartum. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase caused a significant increase in the pressor response to A-2 during gestation, but did not change the resting blood pressure either before or after delivery. The results are discussed in light of previous animal and human studies, and factors which could affect vascular reactivity during gestation and nursing are analyzed.
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits
D000804:Angiotensin II