Protective effects of prostaglandin E2 on the paraquat-induced constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus in the rat.
Pregnant rats on day 21 of gestation received a subcutaneous injection of paraquat (25 mg/kg). Two hr later, some fetuses of these rats received a subcutaneous injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The caliber of the ductus arteriosus (DA) of fetuses was measured 1 hr later. The DA of fetuses of paraquat-treated pregnant rats was significantly constricted compared with that of fetuses of control pregnant rats given physiological saline. However, the DA of PGE2-treated fetuses of paraquat-treated pregnant rats had a caliber comparable to that of control rats. The maternal plasma PGE2 level decreased following paraquat treatment. These results suggest that the decrease of maternal PGE2 level results in a constriction of the DA of fetuses.
Shirai
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Motoya
M
M
Funahashi
H
H
Masaoka
T
T
Yamamoto
M
M
Arishima
K
K
Akahori
F
F
Eguchi
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D015232:Dinoprostone; D010269:Paraquat