Effect of Captopril on Uterine Blood Flow and Prostaglandin E Synthesis in the Pregnant Rabbit

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Abstract

Captopril, 5 mg/kg, administered to pregnant rabbits caused a reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 106±2 to 87±2 mmHg (P<0.01) without change in cardiac output or renal blood flow. Uterine blood flow fell from 31.9±2.5 to 21.3±3.4 ml/min (P<0.01) as uterine vein prostaglandin E series level (PGE) decreased from 127±23 ng/ml to 26±8 ng/ml (P<0.01). Saralasin also caused a reduction in MAP from 110±5 to 92±4.3 (P<0.01), a reduction in uterine blood flow from 28.8±1.6 to 21.8±1.7 ml/min (P<0.01) as uterine vein PGE decreased from 121.3±14.4 to 63.5±14.2 ng/ml (P<0.01). Plasma renin activity (PRA) was higher in the uterine vein, 11±3 ng/ml per h, than peripheral vein, 6±1.6 ng/ml per h, (P<0.05), before Captopril and rose in the uterine vein to 90±19 ng/ml per h (P<0.01) as peripheral vein PRA rose to 62±15 ng/ml per h (P<0.05) after Captopril. After saralasin uterine vein PRA rose from 4.6±1.5 to 14.8±6.3 ng/ml per h (P<0.05) and peripheral vein PRA rose from 3.7±1 to 6.5±2.1 (P<0.05).

Authors

Thomas F. Ferris, Edward K. Weir