Adrenomedullin and atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide that elicits a long-lasting vasorelaxant activity, while atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has also been shown to be a potent vasodilatory agent. To clarify the possible role of AM and ANP in the physiology of pregnancy and pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, we measured plasma concentrations of these peptides in non-pregnant women, normal pregnant women and women with pre-eclampsia. A gradual increase in plasma AM was observed as pregnancy progressed. The plasma AM concentrations during the second trimester (12.7 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml) were significantly elevated, in comparison with the non-pregnant follicular phase (6.4 +/- 0.61 fmol/ml), luteal phase (6.0 +/- 0.49 fmol/ml), and the first trimester (6.5 +/- 0.8 fmol/ml). The plasma AM concentrations of the third trimester (21.5 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml) were significantly elevated when compared with those of the second trimester (P < 0.05). Northern blot analysis confirmed the expression of the AM mRNA transcript (1.6 kb) in third trimester placentas. In comparison with those observed at term (25.3 +/- 4.5 fmol/ml), the plasma concentrations were significantly reduced post-partum (6.4 +/- 0.6 fmol/ml). In the third trimester, plasma AM concentrations did not differ significantly between women with pre-eclampsia (17.2 +/- 2.3 fmol/ml) and normal pregnant women. In contrast, the plasma ANP concentrations in pre-eclampsia (39.5 +/- 7. 1 pg/ml) were significantly elevated when compared with those of the normal third trimester (14.4 +/- 1.4 pg/ml) (P < 0.05). ANP concentrations were reasonably constant throughout the pregnancy.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
T
T
Minegishi
M
M
Nakamura
K
K
Abe
M
M
Tano
A
A
Andoh
M
M
Yoshida
T
T
Takagi
T
T
Nishikimi
M
M
Kojima
K
K
Kangawa
D053607:Adrenomedullin; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor