INCREASED FETAL PLASMA PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) CONCENTRATIONS DURING FETAL-PLACENTAL EMBOLIZATION IN PREGNANT SHEEP

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of chronic fetal placental embolization on fetal plasma prostaglandin E(2) concentrations. STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen pregnant sheep were studied (seven embolized and seven controls) for 10 days between 0.84 and 0.91 of gestation. Daily injections of nonradioactive microspheres were made to decrease fetal arterial oxygen content by 30% to 35% of preembolization values. RESULTS: In response to repeated embolization, fetal plasma prostaglandin E(2) concentrations increased significantly on day 1, declined to near control levels on days 2 to 6, but were significantly elevated again after day 7. Maternal prostaglandin E(2) levels remained unchanged throughout the study. Fetal plasma prostaglandin E(2) levels increased significantly with decreasing fetal oxygenation when fetal arterial oxygen content was <2.0 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is increased production of prostaglandin E(2) by the placenta during progressive fetal hypoxemia induced by fetal placental embolization. We speculate that the progressive increase in prostaglandin E(2) may be an important hormonal adaptive mechanism to maintain fetal homeostasis during the development of placental insufficiency.