Uterine Catecholamines in Normal and Hypertensive Human Pregnancy

O'Shaughnessy R. W, Robert V. O’Toole, Sarah Tuttle, P. F. Zuspan
In: Clinical and Experimental Hypertension. Part B: Hypertension in Pregnancy · 1983 · vol. 2(3) , pp. 447–457 · doi:10.3109/10641958309006100 · W2220846367
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Abstract

The uterine tissue content of the adrenergic transmitter norepinephrine decreases during normal gestation, as part of a functional uterine denervation. Uterine tissue catecholamines were measured in normal and hypertensive human pregnancy. Myometrial samples were obtained at hysterectomy in nonpregnant patients, or by wedge biopsy at the time of cesarean section, in normal and preeclamptic pregnant patients. Biopsies were taken of both placental and non-placental bed tissue in the pregnant patients. All samples were analyzed for catecholamines by a radioenzymatic assay. There was a significant decrease in uterine norepinephrine and dopamine, but no change in epinephrine in normal pregnant patients when compared with non-pregnant patients. The decrease in dopamine and norepinephrine was greater in the placental bed, suggesting a local augmentation of this process by the placenta. There was an increase in uterine dopamine and norepinephrine in patients with preeclampsia, but no change in epinephrine, when compared with normal pregnant patients, and this increase was greater in the placental bed. These findings are compatible with the hypotheses of 1) functional uterine adrenergic denervation in normal pregnancy, and 2) increased tissue activity of the adrenergic nervous system in patients with preeclampsia.

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