title: Endothelial function in myometrial resistance arteries of normal pregnant women perfused with syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membranes (STBM) in concentrations, found in vivo in women with pre-eclampsia, on endothelial function in isolated resistance arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine myometrial resistance arteries isolated from biopsies of healthy term pregnant women, obtained during caesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  The myometrial arteries were mounted in a pressure arteriograph and perfused intraluminally for three hours with STBM (20 to 2000ng/mL) or with erythrocyte membranes or physiological salt solution as controls, all substituted with 0.5% bovine serum albumin. Bradykinin concentration-response curves were performed before and after perfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bradykinin concentrationresponse curves were fitted to the Hill equation and maximal dilation and the pEC50 values were determined from these fits. Differences within groups were analysed with a paired Student's t test. Electron microscopic evaluation of the endothelium was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither STBM nor erythrocyte membrane perfusion affected maximal dilation or the pEC50 values of the bradykinin concentration-response curves at any concentration. Examination by electron microscopy showed no obvious damage to the endothelium after perfusion with STBM or erythrocyte membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perfusion with STBM in concentrations up to 100 times those reported in pre-eclampsia has no significant effect on bradykinin-mediated dilation in isolated myometrial arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Wijk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nisell
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smarason
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Bavel
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kublickiene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008871:Microvilli / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D001920:Bradykinin