Biomaterial Database

Vascular catecholamine sensitivity during pregnancy in the ewe. 1989

M K McLaughlin, and T M Keve, and R Cooke

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.

Four pregnant and four castrated ewes were chronically instrumented for the measurement of external iliac blood flow to test the hypothesis that pregnancy alters alpha-adrenergic sensitivity in a major regional circulation. Complete dose-response curves were generated to methoxamine, phenylephrine, and norepinephrine. Pregnancy was associated with no change in methoxamine sensitivity, an increase in phenylephrine sensitivity, and a decrease in norepinephrine sensitivity. These differential changes in drug sensitivity suggest (1) the alpha 1-receptor population is functionally similar between the two groups of animals, (2) uptake 1 is inhibited, and (3) either catechol-O-methyltransferase activity is increased or the alpha 2- or beta-receptor population changes in this circulation during pregnancy. These data illustrate the complexity of the change in the adrenergic system during pregnancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007083	Iliac Artery	Either of two large arteries originating from the abdominal aorta; they supply blood to the pelvis, abdominal wall and legs.	Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery,Arteries, Iliac,Artery, Iliac,Iliac Arteries
D008729	Methoxamine	An alpha-1 adrenergic agonist that causes prolonged peripheral VASOCONSTRICTION.	Methoxamedrin,Methoxamine Hydrochloride,Metoxamine Wellcome,Vasoxin,Vasoxine,Vasoxyl,Vasylox,Hydrochloride, Methoxamine,Wellcome, Metoxamine
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D010477	Perfusion	Treatment process involving the injection of fluid into an organ or tissue.	Perfusions
D010656	Phenylephrine	An alpha-1 adrenergic agonist used as a mydriatic, nasal decongestant, and cardiotonic agent.	(R)-3-Hydroxy-alpha-((methylamino)methyl)benzenemethanol,Metaoxedrin,Metasympatol,Mezaton,Neo-Synephrine,Neosynephrine,Phenylephrine Hydrochloride,Phenylephrine Tannate,Neo Synephrine,Tannate, Phenylephrine
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011270	Pregnancy, Animal	The process of bearing developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero in non-human mammals, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Animal Pregnancies,Animal Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Animal
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D001783	Blood Flow Velocity	A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed.	Blood Flow Velocities,Flow Velocities, Blood,Flow Velocity, Blood,Velocities, Blood Flow,Velocity, Blood Flow