title: IGF-I, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone in SHR and in rats treated with L-NAME: fetal-placental development.
abstract: METHODS
  The relationship between progesterone (P4), 17beta-estradiol, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and embryonic and fetal development, were examined. Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control untreated (n=60) and treated (n=63) with L-NAME (N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), 15 mg/day in drinking water from the first day after mating to day 18 of gestation. A further group was formed (n=63) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Mean systolic blood pressure was recorded daily. On days 6, 11 and 18 of pregnancy, the number of sites of implantation, litter and placenta weight was examined. In addition, serum levels of P4, 17beta-estradiol and IGF-I were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) increased significantly in L-NAME and SHR rats over the course of the experiment. On day 6 of pregnancy, in the L-NAME group the number of implantation sites, levels of IGF-I and 17beta-estradiol were significantly lower than in the control group. In SHR, only the concentration of IGF-I was low (p<0.05). In contrast, on day 11 of pregnancy no variation was found in the parameters under study. On day 18 of gestation, a significant decrease in litter and placenta weight, concentration of P4 and IGF-I was observed in the experimental groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data further suggest that nitric oxide might regulate IGF-I production, indicating that growth factors may play an important role in fetal-placental development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Unidad de Reproducción), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n., 24007, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbajo Rueda
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz Rodríguez
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández Celadilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR / Q000097:blood*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011374:Progesterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester