Angiotensin II and its different receptor subtypes in placenta and fetal membranes.
The recent discovery of a local renin-angiotensin system in trophoblastic tissues has raised many questions regarding its role in the physiology of normal gestation and its implications in the pathophysiology of hypertension during pregnancy. In this article, the authors first review the most interesting aspects of the chorioplacental renin-angiotensin system, dwelling on the tissue distribution of angiotensin II and its receptor subtypes in the placenta and fetal membranes of different species. The relationship between angiotensin II and other locally synthesized chorioplacental substances is also analysed and the therapeutic implications of phenomena observed in pregnancy-associated hypertension are discussed.
Kalenga
M K
MK
Physiology of Human Reproduction Research Unit, University of Louvain, 272¿School of Medicine, 5330 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Cardiovascular Research Department, Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland.
de Gasparo
M
M
Thomas
K
K
de Hertogh
R
R
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*
D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D000804:Angiotensin II