title: Vasoactive peptides and uterine vessels.
abstract: Endothelins and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are vasoactive peptides with effects on the human uterine and umbilical arteries. Endothelin (ET) contracts the vascular smooth muscle. Both ETA- and non-ETA-non-ETB-receptors seem to be involved. Autoradiography reveals binding of ET to vascular smooth muscle. ANP counteracts the contractile effects of angiotensin II in the human uterine artery. Head-down tilt results in elevation of plasma ANP in healthy pregnant women, while the same manoeuvre induces down-regulation of the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system in non-pregnant women and patients suffering from pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Malmö, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stjernquist
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bodelsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poulsen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor