Vasodilator actions of urocortin and related peptides in the human perfused placenta in vitro

Urocortin, is a recently isolated peptide belonging to the CRH family that binds with high affinity to the CRH2 receptor. Like CRH, urocortin causes hypotension in the rat, but its vasoactive actions have not yet been studied in the human. We have compared the vasoactive properties of urocortin, CRH...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1998-12, Vol.83 (12), p.4510-4513
Main Authors: LEITCH, I. M, BOURA, A. L. A, BOTTI, C, READ, M. A, WALTERS, W. A. W, SMITH, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Vessels - drug effects
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Fetus - blood supply
Fishes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormone metabolism and regulation
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Perfusion
Placenta - blood supply
Placenta - drug effects
Pregnancy
Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation
Urocortins
Urotensins - pharmacology
Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:Urocortin, is a recently isolated peptide belonging to the CRH family that binds with high affinity to the CRH2 receptor. Like CRH, urocortin causes hypotension in the rat, but its vasoactive actions have not yet been studied in the human. We have compared the vasoactive properties of urocortin, CRH, and urotensin-1 in the human fetal placental vasculature in vitro. Single placental lobules were bilaterally perfused (maternal and fetal sides, 5 mL/min each; 95% O2-5% CO2; 37 C), and changes in fetal arterial perfusion pressure were recorded. Submaximal vasoconstriction was induced by PGF2alpha (4+/-0.7 micromol/L), which increased perfusion pressure from 19.6+/-1.4 to 100.7+/-3.1 mm Hg (n=38; P < 0.001). Subsequent fetal arterial infusion of urocortin (0.001-1 nmol/L) caused concentration-dependent vasodilatation. Urocortin was equipotent with urotensin-1 and 25 times more potent than CRH in causing vasodilatation. Nevertheless, the maximum vasodilator responses to each of the peptides were similar (P > 0.05). The CRH receptor antagonist, alpha-helical CRH-(9-41) (0.2 nmol/L) significantly attenuated the vasodilatation produced by urocortin, urotensin-1, and CRH (P < 0.05). These results indicate a possible physiological role for urocortin in the modulation of human fetal placental vascular tone by activation of CRH2-like receptors.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.83.12.4510