Related Experiment Videos
Norepinephrine effects on fetal cardiovascular and endocrine systems
1Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
The American Journal of Physiology
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Fetal norepinephrine (NE) infusions significantly altered blood pressure and volume in a dose-dependent manner. These findings reveal NE
Area of Science:
- Fetal Physiology
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Background:
- Norepinephrine (NE) plays a critical role in cardiovascular regulation.
- Understanding NE's effects in the fetal state is crucial for assessing developmental impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dose-dependent effects of intravenous norepinephrine (NE) infusion on cardiovascular parameters in near-term fetal sheep.
- To determine the impact of NE on fetal blood volume and other vasoactive hormones.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous infusion of varying doses of NE (0.39 to 39 micrograms/min) into chronically catheterized near-term fetal sheep.
- Monitoring of fetal arterial pressure, venous pressure, blood volume, and heart rate.
- Analysis of plasma concentrations of NE, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, and plasma renin activity.
Main Results:
- NE infusion caused a dose-dependent increase in fetal arterial and venous pressures.
- Fetal blood volume decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner with higher NE doses.
- Heart rate initially decreased then increased during NE infusions; other hormone levels remained largely unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Fetal vascular pressures and blood volume are significantly altered by norepinephrine in a dose-dependent manner.
- NE does not appear to affect other circulating vasoactive hormones within its physiological range in the fetus.