title: Depressed endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine and histamine in isolated human epigastric arteries from pre-eclamptic women.
abstract: The vasorelaxant effects of acetylcholine (Ach) and histamine have been examined on 10(-7) M-noradrenaline (NA)-precontracted ring preparations of epigastric arteries from normotensive and pregnancy-induced hypertensive women. Contractile responses to 10(-7) M-NA were significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced following removal of the endothelium. Both Ach and histamine (in the presence of H1-receptor blockers) elicited methylene blue-sensitive concentration-dependent relaxations only in endothelium-intact rings. The relaxation responses to both agents were significantly attenuated in arterial rings from pre-eclamptic women. Endothelium-independent relaxation responses induced by sodium nitroprusside were comparable in arterial rings from both patient groups. The results suggest an impairment of endothelial function in pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oguogho
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Aloamaka
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ebeigbe
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine; D000109:Acetylcholine