title: Vasoactive effects of neurokinin B on human blood vessels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disease unique to human pregnancy. Abnormal placentation results in placental hypoperfusion leading to the secretion of a factor(s) by the placenta. Our aim was to investigate whether neurokinin B (NKB) is the circulating factor associated with PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vascular effects of NKB were assessed in blood vessels dissected from myometrial and omental biopsy specimens obtained at caesarean section from normal pregnant women (n = 26) or in mesenteric blood vessels obtained from nonpregnant female Wistar rats (n = 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incubation with NKB did not alter endothelial-dependent relaxation of omental or myometrial arteries. NKB produced a dose-dependent relaxation in preconstricted omental arteries and veins. NKB did not affect vasoactive responsiveness of rat mesenteric arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude from these observations that NKB is not the circulating factor associated with increased vascular resistance in PE.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Mark.Wareing@man.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wareing
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'hara
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Averil Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: Philip N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001158:Arteries; D001706:Biopsy; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009852:Omentum / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D015287:Neurokinin B