Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a major paracrine mediator and important regulatory agent in various female reproductive processes, such as ovulation, implantation, pregnancy maintenance, labor and delivery. Ovulation: Circulating NOproducts are increased during follicle development and decreased right after ovulation. INOS-inhibition results in a 50% reduction of ovulation, an effect completely reversed by an NO. Endometrium / Implantation: NO also regulates endometrial functions such as endometrial receptivity, implantation and menstruation. NO-donors may be useful for promoting fertility, while NO-inhibitors might be used for contraception. Uterine contractility: Throughout gestation myometrial NO-production is upregulated thus contributing to achieve uterine quiescence. Close to term, NO-production decreases promoting effective contractions resulting in labor. Clinical trials have demonstrated that NO-donors are effective tocolytics. Cervical ripening: In contrast to the myometrium, NO-production in the cervix is low during gestation and becomes upregulated once pregnancy advances to term. NO-donors are effective and safe cervical ripening agents. This finding from animal studies has been confirmed by several clinical trials. Vasoreactivity: In blood vessels, NO is a potent vasodilator and platelet-aggregation-inhibitor. Lack of NO during gestation was related to the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. In conclusion, NO-donors and NOS-inhibitors may provide novel, effective, safe, and inexpensive drugs to regulate and steer various functions in female reproductive life. The benefits reach from contraception to preventing possibly lethal pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Introducing NOdonors as tocolytics and cervical ripening agents may contribute to a reduction of fetal and maternal perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: nitric oxide, paracrine mediator, ovulation, uterine contraction, nitric oxide synthase, nos, no synthases, no
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Nitric Oxide and its Role During Pregnancy: From Ovulation to Delivery
Volume: 9 Issue: 5
Author(s): H. Maul, M. Longo, G. R. Saade and R. E. Garfield
Affiliation:
Keywords: nitric oxide, paracrine mediator, ovulation, uterine contraction, nitric oxide synthase, nos, no synthases, no
Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a major paracrine mediator and important regulatory agent in various female reproductive processes, such as ovulation, implantation, pregnancy maintenance, labor and delivery. Ovulation: Circulating NOproducts are increased during follicle development and decreased right after ovulation. INOS-inhibition results in a 50% reduction of ovulation, an effect completely reversed by an NO. Endometrium / Implantation: NO also regulates endometrial functions such as endometrial receptivity, implantation and menstruation. NO-donors may be useful for promoting fertility, while NO-inhibitors might be used for contraception. Uterine contractility: Throughout gestation myometrial NO-production is upregulated thus contributing to achieve uterine quiescence. Close to term, NO-production decreases promoting effective contractions resulting in labor. Clinical trials have demonstrated that NO-donors are effective tocolytics. Cervical ripening: In contrast to the myometrium, NO-production in the cervix is low during gestation and becomes upregulated once pregnancy advances to term. NO-donors are effective and safe cervical ripening agents. This finding from animal studies has been confirmed by several clinical trials. Vasoreactivity: In blood vessels, NO is a potent vasodilator and platelet-aggregation-inhibitor. Lack of NO during gestation was related to the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. In conclusion, NO-donors and NOS-inhibitors may provide novel, effective, safe, and inexpensive drugs to regulate and steer various functions in female reproductive life. The benefits reach from contraception to preventing possibly lethal pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Introducing NOdonors as tocolytics and cervical ripening agents may contribute to a reduction of fetal and maternal perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Maul H., Longo M., Saade R. G. and Garfield E. R., Nitric Oxide and its Role During Pregnancy: From Ovulation to Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2003; 9 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033391784
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033391784 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Bio-analytical Method Development and Validation of Tadalafil with a Special Emphasis on Pharmacokinetic Study in Healthy Indian Subjects for the ODS Formulation
Current Analytical Chemistry Progress and Issues of the Genome-Wide Association Study for Hypertension
Current Medicinal Chemistry Non-Traditional Systemic Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy: An Evidence-Based Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry How Effective are the Lipid Modifying Medicines at Preventing Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome?
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Adipobiology for Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Metabolic Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Redox Mechanisms of Vascular Cell Dysfunction in Sepsis
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Anti-VEGF Strategies – from Antibodies to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Background and Clinical Development in Human Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Impact of Pressure Drop on Pulse Wave Velocity Along Experimental Stenoses
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Drug Metabolizing Enzymes in the Perinatal and Neonatal Period: Differences in the Expression and Activity
Current Drug Metabolism Dyslipidaemia, Hypercoagulability and the Metabolic Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Prostaglandins Pathway as a Possible Biological Link Between Cancer and Major Depression
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Uric Acid and the Kidney: Urate Transport, Stone Disease and Progressive Renal Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design Dietary Nitrite in Nitric Oxide Biology: A Redox Interplay with Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
Current Drug Targets The Mediterranean Diet: A Combination of Beneficial Elements for Cardiovascular Disease
Current Nutrition & Food Science Ginger and Heart Health: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics
Current Molecular Pharmacology The Role of Ultrasonography of Peripheral Entheses in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Spondyloarthropathies
Current Rheumatology Reviews Cardiovascular Complications in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Current Hypertension Reviews Editorial: (Thematic Issue: Vascular Pathophysiology of Alzheimer`s Disease)
Current Alzheimer Research Importance of Receptor-targeted Systems in the Battle Against Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Protects Against Acute Focal Ischemia,Improves Motor Function, and Results in Vascular Remodeling
Current Neurovascular Research