An EP4 receptor agonist prevents indomethacin-induced closure of rat ductus arteriosus in vivo.
Indomethacin exerts a strong tocolytic effect by suppressing uterine contractions mediated by prostaglandins. However, indomethacin also induces in utero closure of fetal ductus arteriosus (DA), leading to serious neonatal consequences. Using rats, we tested the effect of an agonist for a subtype of prostaglandin E2 receptor (EP4), ONO-AE1-437 and its prodrug ONO-4819, as a DA dilator during indomethacin treatment. In vitro, ONO-AE1-437 exhibited a potent dilatory effect on DA against O(2)- and indomethacin-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, rat dams were given indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) alone or with ONO-4819 (0.3 micrograms/kg/h, s.c.) on d 21 of gestation and pups were delivered 4 h later through cesarean section to evaluate the ratio of diameter of DA to that of pulmonary artery. Pups from dams with no drug had DA/PA ratio of 0.9 +/- 0.05, whereas those from dams with indomethacin alone had a decreased ratio of 0.2 +/- 0.03. When ONO-4819 was co-administered to the dams, the ratio recovered significantly to 0.7 +/- 0.06. The administration of ONO-4819 to the dams did not induce any increase in the uterine activity. These results suggest that administration of an EP4 agonist in addition to indomethacin might prevent adverse reactions of indomethacin on fetal DA without restricting its tocolytic effects.
Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, 078-8510 Japan.
Hiroki
H
Kajino
Takanobu
T
Taniguchi
Kenji
K
Fujieda
Fumitaka
F
Ushikubi
Ikunobu
I
Muramatsu
D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006537:Heptanoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000819:agonists*; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; D015145:Tocolysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D006537:Heptanoates; C487764:ONO4819; C545652:Ptger4 protein, rat; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; D007213:Indomethacin