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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Uterine artery notch is associated with increased placental endothelial nitric oxide synthase and heat shock protein
Young Ju Kim1, Bo Eun Lee, Hwa Young Lee
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. kkyj@ewha.ac.kr
Objective:
This study was undertaken to evaluate whether uterine artery notch is associated with placental expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), and Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (Lox) in pregnant women.
Study Design:
Uterine artery Doppler was performed in 30 pregnant women divided into two groups with or without the presence of uterine artery notches. After delivery, placental expression of eNOS, Hsp70, and Lox were evaluated with western blot analysis.
Results:
Higher levels of placental eNOS (p = 0.02) and Hsp70 (p = 0.001) were expressed in the group with uterine artery notch compared with the group without uterine artery notch. There was no significant difference for placental Lox expression between group with uterine artery notch and without uterine artery notch (p = 0.17).
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that uterine artery notch is associated with increased placental expression of eNOS and Hsp in pregnant women.
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