Maternal nitric oxide supplementation increases adrenomedullin concentrations in growth retarded fetuses

• Published in: Gynecological endocrinology Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 187 - 192
• Main Authors: Di Iorio, R., Marinoni, E., Gazzolo, D., Letizia, C., Di Netta, T., Cosmi, E. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Carnforth Informa UK Ltd 2002; Taylor & Francis; Parthenon
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; ADRENOMEDULLIN; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - blood; Fetal Growth Retardation - physiopathology; Fetus - blood supply; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION; Medical sciences; Middle Cerebral Artery - physiology; NITRIC OXIDE; Nitric Oxide - blood; Nitric Oxide Donors - administration & dosage; Nitric Oxide Donors - pharmacology; Nitroglycerin - administration & dosage; Nitroglycerin - pharmacology; Peptides - blood; Peptides - drug effects; Placenta - blood supply; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Pulsatile Flow; Regional Blood Flow; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Umbilical Arteries - physiology; UTEROPLACENTAL AND FETAL CIRCULATION; Uterus - blood supply; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Human; Intrauterine growth retardation; Pregnancy disorders; Treatment efficiency; Middle cerebral artery; Adrenomedullin; Umbilical artery; Maternal treatment; Blood plasma; Fetal diseases; Chemotherapy; Nitric oxide; Nitroglycerin; Organic nitrate; Supplementation
• ISSN: 0951-3590; 1473-0766
• DOI: 10.1080/gye.16.3.187.192

Nitric oxide (NO) and adrenomedullin (AM) are both involved in the regulation of fetoplacental circulation in human pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal NO supplementation
in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) on maternal and fetal NO and AM concentrations and their correlation with uteroplacental and fetal blood flow. We studied 20 pregnant
women with IUGR and impaired uteroplacental blood flow between 27 and 35 weeks of gestation randomly selected to receive either transdermal glyceryl trinitrate or placebo. Maternal NO metabolites (NOx)
and AM concentrations did not change before and after NO treatment. AM levels were significantly higher in growth retarded fetuses whose mothers received NO donors (114.1 ± 17.6 pg/ml) than in untreated
fetuses (59.8 ± 38.6 pg/ml), whereas NO treatment did not affect significantly fetal NOx levels. Fetal AM correlated with middle cerebral artery pulsatility index in untreated IUGR but not in NO
treated pregnancies.