THE EFFECT OF FOETAL REMOVAL ON THE BLOOD PRESSURE IN STEROID HYPERTENSIVE RATS
ABSTRACT In unilaterally nephrectomized hypertensive rats receiving DOCA, cortisone and saline the blood pressure falls after the removal of the foetuses as though the animals continued to be pregnant with the foetuses in situ. On the other hand, when the foetuses are removed from steroid hypertensive animals in which the maternal kidneys remain intact the blood pressure remains at hypertensive levels. The metrial gland part of the placenta appears histologically viable after foetal removal. We conclude from the present and earlier experiments that the usual hypotensive effect of pregnancy in hypertensive animals is due to a vasodepressor agent produced by the foetuses and the metrial gland moiety of the placenta and that the activity of this agent is subject to maternal renal function. A relation between these experiments and human pregnancy hypertension is not clear but we suggest that in human pregnancy, hypertension could be due either to failure of the foetoplacental vasodepressor or vasodilator agent or to destruction or excretion of this agent by the maternal kidney.