title: Endogenous nitric oxide attenuates ethanol-induced vasoconstriction in the human placenta.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of endogenous nitric oxide and prostanoids in ethanol-induced perturbation of microcirculation in perfused human placenta. Infusion of ethanol into chorionic plate vessels at 10-65 mM increases perfusion pressure in a concentration-dependent fashion, and is an indicator of fetal-placental vasoconstriction. Simultaneous infusion of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine, methylene blue and endothelial cell removal significantly enhances the ethanol-induced increase in perfusion pressure. In contrast, sodium nitroprusside attenuates this effect. Indomethacin did not significantly modify the ethanol-induced response. In conclusion, inhibition of the action of endogenous nitric oxide is associated with an increase in fetal-placental vasoconstriction. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator that reduces ethanol-induced vasoconstriction, thus improving microcirculation, and leads to decreased placental damage.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Chile. cacevedo@halcon-dpi-udec.cl
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Huambachano
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Contreras
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010477:Perfusion; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012997:Solvents; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D008751:Methylene Blue; D007213:Indomethacin