Regulation of myometrial circulation and uterine vascular tone by constitutive nitric oxide

Pregnancy is a physiological state that involves an increase in uterine blood flow, which is mediated in part by nitric oxide (NO) liberated from the endothelium and nitrergic neurons. The main focus of this review article is to provide information about how endogenous NO regulates uterine and placental blood flow and vascular tone in experimental animals and humans in vivo or in vitro in non-pregnant and pregnant states as well as pregnancy with pre-eclampsia. Uterine arteries from non-pregnant women respond to NO liberated from the endothelium and nitrergic nerves with relaxations, and the release of endothelial NO is influenced by the phase of the estrous cycle, with its enhanced release at the follicular phase when the estrogen level is high. NO bioavailability in the uteroplacental circulatory system is gradually increased during pregnancy. Pre-eclamptic pregnancies with or without intrauterine growth restriction show impaired uteroplacental blood flow accompanied by reduced NO synthesis due to down-regulation of eNOS as well as asymmetric dimethylarginine accumulation and by augmented NO degradation by oxidative stress. Further studies are expected to provide new mechanistic insights into the fascinating process of maternal uterine adaptation in humans and novel prophylactic and therapeutic measures against pre-eclampsia.