Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Prostaglandins and the regulation of uterine blood flow in pregnancy

Nature volume 249, pages 57–58 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

IN late pregnancy, uterine blood flow (UBF) has increased by as much as thirty- to forty-fold1 and uterine vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictor hormones and adrenergic nerve stimulation has decreased2,3. For example, angiotensin II increases blood flow to the gravid uterus3,4, an uncommon response to this agent which is the most potent vasoconstrictor hormone5. Prostaglandins of the E series (PGE) have been reported to maintain some regional blood flows6,7 and to modulate the vasoconstrictor activity of angiotensin II and noradrenaline8,9. In view of the findings that the uterus synthesises prostaglandins10,11, we have investigated the possible participation of locally synthesised prostaglandins in the regulation of blood flow and vascular reactivity of the gravid uterus.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Metcalfe, J., Romney, S. L., Swartwout, J. R., Pitcairn, D. M., Lethin, jr. A. N., and Barron, D. H., Am. J. Physiol., 197, 929 (1959).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ladner, C. Brinkman, III, C. R., Weston, P., and Assali, N. S., Am. J. Physiol., 218, 257 (1970).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ferris, T. F., Stein, J. H., and Kauffman, J., J. clin. Invest., 51, 2827 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Assali, N. S., Allan Westersten, E. E., Circulation Res., 9, 189 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Barer, G. R., J. Physiol., 156, 49 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lonigro, A. J., Itskovitz, H. D., Crowshaw, K., and McGiff, J. C., Circulation Res., 32, 712 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bowery, N. G., Lewis, G. P., and Matthews, J., Br. J. Pharmac., 40, 437 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. McGiff, J. C., Crowshaw, K., Terragno, N. A., and Lonigro, A. J., Nature, 227, 1255 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ferreira, S. H., Moncada, S., and Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac., 47, 48 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ryan, M. J., Clark, K. E., Van Orden, D. E., Farley, D., Edvinsson, L., Sjoberg, N. O., Van Orden III, L. S., and Brody, M. J., Prostaglandins, 4, 629 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Blatchley, F. R., Donovan, B. T., Poyser, N. L., Horton, E. W., Thompson, C. J., and Los, M., Nature, 230, 243 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. McGiff, J. C., Crowshaw, K., Terragno, N. A., Malik, K. U., and Lonigro, A. J., Clin. Sci., 42, 223 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac., 35, 209 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Palmer, M. A., Piper, P. J., and Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac., 49, 226 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Terragno, N. A., Lonigro, A. J., Malik, K. U., and McGiff, J. C., Experientia, 28, 437 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Frölich, J. C., Wilson, T. W., Carr, K., Nies, A. S., and Oates, J. A., Clin. Res., 21, 687 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  17. McGiff, J. C., Terragno, N. A., Malik, K. U., and Lonigro, A. J., Circulation Res., 31, 36 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sameulsson, B., J. biol. Chem., 238, 3229 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ferris, T. F., Gorden, P., and Mulrow, P. J., Am. J. Physiol., 212, 698 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Vane, J. R., Nature new Biol., 231, 232 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Aiken, J. W., and Vane, J. R., J. Pharm. exp. Ther., 184, 678 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Page, E. W., Am. J. Obst. Gynec., 53, 275 (1947).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Chesley, L. C., and Annitto, J. E., Am. J. Obst. Gynec, 53, 372 (1947).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. McGiff, J. C., and Itskovitz, H. D., Circulation Res., 33, 479 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, 561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233

    N. A. TERRAGNO

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Section of Clinical Pharmacology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, 561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233

    D. A. TERRAGNO, D. PACHOLCZYK & J. C. MCGIFF

Authors
  1. N. A. TERRAGNO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. A. TERRAGNO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. PACHOLCZYK
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. C. MCGIFF
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

TERRAGNO, N., TERRAGNO, D., PACHOLCZYK, D. et al. Prostaglandins and the regulation of uterine blood flow in pregnancy. Nature 249, 57–58 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249057a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/249057a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing