Influence of Pregnancy, Prostacyclin and Labetalol on the Vascular Response to Angiotensin II in the Rat

Abstract

The mean arterial blood pressure and the vascular response to angiotensin II were studied in chronically catheterized and unanesthetized rats.

Pregnancy significantly decreased the pressor response. This effect could be mimicked by prostacyclin infusions in non pregnant rats, whereas labetalol had an opposite effect.

The model seems suitable for investigations into the control of vascular reactivity, and reinforces the hypothesis that the relative vascular refractoriness to angiotensin II during pregnancy could result, at least in part, from the action of vasodilator prostaglandins, in this instance prostacyclin