title: Cocaine alters placental production of thromboxane and prostacyclin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that cocaine alters placental prostaglandin production in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placentas were obtained from healthy women (n = 6) after normal vaginal delivery at term. Placental explants (300 mg) were incubated in duplicate at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0, 30, 300, or 3000 ng/ml cocaine. Thromboxane and prostacyclin production was measured by radioimmunoassay of their stable metabolites (thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha) at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours. Analysis of variance with Newman-Keuls test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cocaine increased thromboxane production in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001) and decreased prostacyclin production (p < 0.05). Cocaine increased the ratio of thromboxane/prostacyclin production (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cocaine alters the placental production of prostaglandins in vitro, favoring thromboxane production, which may cause vasoconstriction and decrease uteroplacental blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 77030.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chmielowiec
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Troyer
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol; D003042:Cocaine