title: [The effects of 3,4-dihydroxyacetophynone on the activity of nitric oxide synthetase in placental vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells and on the level of endothelin-1 in plasma from pregnancy-induced hypertension patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of 3,4-dihydroxyacetophynone (DHAP), one of the constituents of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the activities of endothelial nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) in vascular endothelial cells (VEC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of placenta and the level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the plasma from PIH patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 nulliparous PIH patients were randomly divided into PIH group and DHAP treatment group. Each patients in DHAP group received intravenous administration of DHAP (160-240 mg/d). Blood samples were collected before the administration of DHAP and (or) before cesarean section. The placenta were assayed for nitric oxide synthase activity using histochemical analysis; the concentration of ET in plasma was measured by radioimmunoassays. 10 normal pregnant women or 10 nonpregnant women were served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal pregnant controls, NOS activity was much higher than that in the PIH group; in DHAP group, there was some recovery of NOS activity after DHAP treatment. The concentration of ET was higher in PIH group than that of normal pregnant controls, but it decreased significantly after DHAP therapy (P < 0.05, vs PIH group or before DHAP therapy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that DHAP is effective in the treatment of PIH and its mechanism of action may be due to the adjustment of NO/ET imbalance in PIH patients.
authors.affiliation: Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D019332:Endothelin-1; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C032940:3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase