title: Nitric oxide synthesis is increased after dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate administration in term human pregnancy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of nitric oxide in the vasodilative effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) in term pregnant women. Circulating nitrite, nitrate and oestradiol concentrations were measured on 10 normal full-term pregnant women before (-30 min) and after (10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) administration of a 200 mg i.v. dose of DHEA-S dissolved in 20 ml of 5% dextrose (DHEA-S group). Ten normal full-term pregnant women received 20 ml of 5% dextrose as controls (control group). Maternal blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded. The median oestradiol concentration increased significantly after the infusion in DHEA-S group (P < 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in plasma oestradiol in the control group. In the DHEA-S group, plasma circulating nitrate and nitrite increased significantly at 10 and 30 min after DHEA-S administration respectively (P < 0.05). In the control group, there was no change in plasma nitric oxide (NO) metabolites. No change was found in heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure in the control or DHEA-S groups. These results suggest there may be a link between increased NO and increased oestrogen after DHEA-S injection but their peak values did not coincide. Both may be associated with vasodilation in term pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, 89-1 Enya, Izumo 693-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irikoma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masumura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate