title: The biological investigation of prostacyclin in preeclamptic women seen reduced endothelial function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to determine the biological investigation of prostacyclin in preeclamptic women seen reduced endothelial vasodilatation by non-invasive technique in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a high resolution ultrasound transducer, diameters of brachial arteries were determined after reactive hyperemia in 15 non-pregnant, 20 normotensive pregnant and 20 preeclamptic women. The concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1alpha (6keto-PGF 1alpha) in plasma and the concentrations of adenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in platelets and serum were measured among the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flow-mediated vasodilatation at 1 min after reactive hyperemia was higher in normotensive pregnant than in the non-pregnant or preeclamptic women. The plasma concentration of 6 keto-PGF 1alpha as well as the serum concentration of cyclic AMP were lower in preeclamptic than those in normotensive pregnant women. The increase in cyclic AMP in the presence of a prostacyclin analogue in platelets was seen at similar levels in all three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From these results, the concentrations of prostacyclin in plasma and cyclic AMP in serum might be low possibly due to reduced production of prostacyclin in preeclamptic women seen reduced endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzumori
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D000242:Cyclic AMP