title: Preeclampsia is caused by continuous sympathetic center excitation due to an enlarged pregnant uterus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To deduce the origin of preeclampsia characterized by hypertension and proteinuraia on the basis of results from animal studies and its therapeutic strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sympathetic and parasympathetic zones of female non-pregnant rabbit brain were stimulated electrically with Kurotu's electrodes. Systolic blood pressure, urine volume, and proteinuria were evaluated before and after the stimulation of autonomic zones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excitation, hypertension, urine reduction, cloudy urine, and proteinuria were observed following stimulation of the sympathetic zone. A stable state, low blood pressure, increased urine volume, and no proteinuria were observed following stimulation of the parasympathetic zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia are caused by continuous stimulation of the sympathetic nervous center in the hypothalamus through the innervation between the enlarged uterus and hypothalamus in the latter stages of pregnancy or in a complete hydatidiform mole. Future studies are needed to address the potential of pharmacological suppression of an overactive sympathetic nerve system.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology