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5-Hydroxytryptamine and Thromboxane A2 as Physiologic Mediators of Human Umbilical Artery Closure

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Abstract

Objective

This study investigated the response of the human umbilical artery to various agonists in order to determine which agents might be involved in umbilical cord closure.

Methods

Umbilical artery rings from 22 cesarean deliveries were suspended in tissue baths containing Krebs-Henseleit solution under low and normal oxygen conditions. Samples were challenged with 5-hy-droxytryptamine, acetylcholine, angiotensin II, bradykinin, endothelin-1, histamine, norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and U46619 (a thromboxane A2 mimetic).

Results

Only 5-hydroxytryptamine, bradykinin, endothelin-1, histamine, and V46619 produced appreciable maximal contractions. Furthermore, although the contractile force generated by these agonists was diminished in normal oxygen conditions, this reduction affected responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine and U46619 least.

Conclusion

5-Hydroxytryptamine and U46619 demonstrated the characteristics most likely to be associated with closure of the umbilical artery, ie, they elicited strong, sustained contractions at physiologic concentrations and under both normal and low-oxygen conditions. These data suggest that closure of the umbilical artery may be mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine and thromboxane A2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Adrian Quan MPhil, Susan W. S. Leung PhD, Terence T. Lao MD & Ricky Y. K. Man PhD

Authors
  1. Adrian Quan MPhil
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  2. Susan W. S. Leung PhD
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  3. Terence T. Lao MD
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  4. Ricky Y. K. Man PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricky Y. K. Man PhD.

Additional information

This work was supported in part by a University of Hong Kong Block Grant and a Committee on Research and Conference (CRCG) grant. S.W.S.L was the recipient of a University of Hong Kong Studentship and a Postgraduate Student Fellowship from the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund.

We gratefully acknowledge the help of Ms. Teresa Cheung in gathering patient data and the operating theatre staff at Tsan Yuk Hospital, we would like to thank Mr. Norman Lee for his assistance in providing the necessary buffer measurements. From The University of Hong Kong, we express our appreciation for the support and input of Dr. Hwee Teoh as well as Mr. Godfrey Man for his indispensable assistance.

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Quan, A., Leung, S.W.S., Lao, T.T. et al. 5-Hydroxytryptamine and Thromboxane A2 as Physiologic Mediators of Human Umbilical Artery Closure. Reprod. Sci. 10, 490–495 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-55760300149-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-55760300149-7

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