Fetoplacental vascular responses to prostacyclin after thromboxane-induced vasoconstriction

The vasodilator prostacyclin is produced by fetal tissues and may serve to protect umbilical blood flow. We hypothesized that prostacyclin could reverse fetoplacental vasoconstriction produced by a thromboxane mimic (U-46619). Fetal regional blood flow was measured by the radioactive microsphere technique in six unanesthetized, near-term ovine fetuses. Measurements were made in the control period, again 20 minutes after a fetal infusion of U-46619 was begun, and finally 20 minutes after prostacyclin was added to the U-46619 infusion. Mean arterial pressure rose significantly in response to U-46619 (38 +/- 1 to 51 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.01) and returned to baseline after prostacyclin (42 +/- 2 mm Hg). Renal resistance was increased from 0.16 +/- 0.01 to 0.22 +/- 0.01 mm Hg.ml-1.min.100 gm-1 (p less than 0.05) by U-46619 and decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) below baseline by addition of prostacyclin (0.10 +/- 0.02 mm Hg.ml-1.min.100 gm-1). Placental resistance also increased significantly (p less than 0.03) in response to U-46619 (from 0.15 +/- 0.01 to 0.21 +/- 0.01 mm Hg.ml-1.min.kg-1 fetal weight) but was further increased to 0.29 +/- 0.03 mm Hg.ml-1.min.kg-1 fetal weight by the addition of prostacyclin. Umbilical placental blood flow decreased significantly (p less than 0.03) when prostacyclin was added to U-46619 (315 +/- 40 to 195 +/- 30 ml.min-1.kg-1 fetal weight). Whereas U-46619 had no effect on fetal arterial blood gases, the addition of prostacyclin resulted in significant fetal acidosis (p less than 0.03). We conclude that thromboxane mimic causes fetal hypertension and renal and placental vasoconstriction. Prostacyclin reverses hypertension and renal vasoconstriction but, unexpectedly, worsens fetal placental vasoconstriction produced by thromboxane. It is likely that the observed fetal acidosis is a result of compromised placental function.