Elevated NK cell level and autoimmunity synergistically decrease uterine blood flow during early pregnancy

To evaluate the extent to which endogenous hormones in peripheral blood can account for uterine blood flow (UBF), rates of blood flow and concentrations of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) were measured simultaneously in four sheep during the estrous cycle and the first 3 wk of pregnancy. During the estrous cycle, UBF was inversely related to the concentration of P4 (P less than 0.01) and directly related to (E1 + E2)/P4 (P less than 0.01). There was no animal in which UBF was related to estrogen alone. No statistically significant relationship between endogenous hormones and UBF was detected in any ewe during the first 3 wk of pregnancy. Data support the idea that UBF varies during the estrous cycle in relation to peripheral concentrations of P4 and (E1 + E2)/P4 but leaves open the nature of the relationship in early pregnancy.

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BLOOD FLOW IN THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE MOUSE AFTER HYPOPHYSECTOMY, AFTER GONADOTROPHIN TREATMENT, DURING THE OESTROUS CYCLE AND DURING EARLY PREGNANCY

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.0440523 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 523-536 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

B. M. BINDON

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Early Pregnancy ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Oestrous Cycle ◽

Unit Weight ◽

Organ Blood Flow ◽

Uterine Blood Flow ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Brain ◽

In Pregnancy

SUMMARY The indicator fractionation technique was examined and found to be of value in the measurement of organ blood flow in the anaesthetized female mouse with [131I]iodoantipyrine as the indicator substance. Blood flow per unit weight of the brain and ovary was shown to decline rapidly after hypophysectomy. A single injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMS), given 4 days after hypophysectomy, restored the blood flow of these organs to normal levels. Uterine blood flow was unaffected by hypophysectomy, and was significantly increased by PMS injection. Significant changes in brain, ovarian and uterine blood flow were observed during the oestrous cycle, early pregnancy and in mice induced to ovulate by injections of gonadotrophin. There was a tendency for brain and ovarian blood flow to decline before ovulation. By contrast, significant transient increases in blood flow to the brain and ovary were observed on day 3 of pregnancy. It is thought that these changes are related to the mechanisms which initiate implantation. Uterine blood flow was lowest in mated and unmated mice on the day of oestrus and rose to peak levels 2 days later. In pregnancy, however, peak uterine blood flow was recorded between days 3 and 4 and was higher than at any stage in the oestrous cycle. Although it tended to fall after day 3, uterine blood flow in pregnancy did not decline again to low levels as it did in the oestrous cycle. The possible physiological significance of the results is discussed, and the limitations to their interpretation are considered.

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Blood flow and oxygen consumption of the pregnant uterus

American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content ◽

10.1152/ajplegacy.1961.200.2.274 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 200 (2) ◽

pp. 274-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

William E. Huckabee ◽

James Metcalfe ◽

Harry Prystowsky ◽

Donald H. Barron

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Early Pregnancy ◽

Uterine Blood Flow ◽

Pregnant Uterus ◽

Gestational Period

The 4-aminoantipyrine method was employed for measuring rate of blood flow per kilogram of tissue in the pregnant uterus of anesthetized goats. A uterine vein was cannulated, but no other manipulation or disturbance of the uterus occurred. Uterine blood flow was high in the nonpregnant uterus and in early pregnancy but fell to a plateau of 277 ml/kg/min. at midpregnancy. (A-V)O2 was minimal in the first quarter of pregnancy and rose to a plateau also by midpregnancy. Rate of O2 consumption per kilogram was relatively high in the nonpregnant uterus, fell to a minimal value in the first quarter of the gestational period, and rose again to a plateau of 10.1 ml/kg/ min. beginning at midpregnancy. All these values appeared to remain unchanged during the last half of gestation.

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