[Prostacyclin sensitivity of thrombocytes and prostacyclin-like activity in the umbilical cord]

The present paper reports on determination of prostacyclin sensitivity of thrombocytes in the umbilical vein and prostacylin-like activity in the umbilical artery and vein in 16 umbilical cords. Prostacyclin sensitivity of the thrombocytes in the umbilical vein is significantly higher than in the venous blood of nonpregnant women and third-trimester gravidae. The higher the prostacyclin sensitivity of the thrombocytes, the lower the prostacyclin-like activity in the umbilical cord vessels. Prostacyclin-like activity in the umbilical vein is 1.3 times higher than in the umbilical artery. There is a positive correlation between the activity in the umbilical artery and that in the umbilical vein. No significant relations were found between the prostacyclin-like activity of the thrombocytes or respectively the prostacyclin-like activity, and the blood gas and multiple serum analysis values and birth parameters. The significance of the findings with regard to hemodynamics in the umbilical cord is discussed.