title: Umbilical arteries of babies born to cigarette smokers generate less prostacyclin and contain less arginine and citrulline compared with those of babies born to control subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hypothesis of this study was that umbilical arteries of babies born to smoking mothers produce less nitric oxide and prostacyclin than do those of nonsmoking mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  L-Arginine, L-citrulline, L-cysteine, and prostacyclin were measured in the umbilical arteries of 11 babies born to smoking mothers and 16 infants born to nonsmoking controls. The concentrations in the two groups were compared with the modified t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The generation of prostacyclin was reduced in the umbilical arteries of infants of smoking mothers. Similarly, L-arginine and L-citrulline, but not L-cysteine levels, in these arteries were suppressed compared with those of the nonsmoking controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Along with the known direct vasoconstrictive effect of nicotine, nitric oxide and prostacyclin deficiency may affect the uteroplacental blood flow and contribute to the impaired fetal nutrition and increased perinatal mortality of babies born to women who smoke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ulm
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plöckinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pirich
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gryglewski
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Sinzinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002956:Citrulline / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline; D001120:Arginine; D011464:Epoprostenol; D003545:Cysteine