The immediate goal is to explore the ontogeny of NO synthase in the human placenta, to verify its expression by extravillous cytotrophoblast, and to determine whether NO synthase is altered in placentae from women with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation, and in choriocarcinoma tissue. Because extravillous cytotrophoblast are invasive and apparently supplant the vascular smooth muscle cells of spiral arteries, we will also test whether the NO produced by cytotrophoblast cultured from first trimester placenta facilitates cytotrophoblast cell invasion as well as contributes to cytostasis or cytotoxicity of human vascular smooth muscle cells in coculture. The long-term goal is to obtain the necessary career development to become an independent investigator in the emerging field of cytotrophoblast biology and to acquire the requisite techniques of molecular and cell biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04HD001098-03
Application #
2024645
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 1 (HED)
Project Start
1995-01-01
Project End
1999-12-31
Budget Start
1997-01-01
Budget End
1997-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Magee-Women's Hospital of Upmc
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
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Conrad, Kirk P; Powers, Robert W; Davis, Alan K et al. (2002) Citrulline is not the major product using the standard ""NOS activity"" assay on renal cortical homogenates. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 282:R303-10
Gandley, R E; Conrad, K P; McLaughlin, M K (2001) Endothelin and nitric oxide mediate reduced myogenic reactivity of small renal arteries from pregnant rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280:R1-7
Benyo, D F; Smarason, A; Redman, C W et al. (2001) Expression of inflammatory cytokines in placentas from women with preeclampsia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:2505-12
Danielson, L A; Kercher, L J; Conrad, K P (2000) Impact of gender and endothelin on renal vasodilation and hyperfiltration induced by relaxin in conscious rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 279:R1298-304
Rajakumar, A; Conrad, K P (2000) Expression, ontogeny, and regulation of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors in the human placenta. Biol Reprod 63:559-69
Danielson, L A; Sherwood, O D; Conrad, K P (1999) Relaxin is a potent renal vasodilator in conscious rats. J Clin Invest 103:525-33
Fairchild Benyo, D; Conrad, K P (1999) Expression of the erythropoietin receptor by trophoblast cellsin the human placenta. Biol Reprod 60:861-70
Benyo, D F; Miles, T M; Conrad, K P (1997) Hypoxia stimulates cytokine production by villous explants from the human placenta. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 82:1582-8
Conrad, K P; Benyo, D F; Westerhausen-Larsen, A et al. (1996) Expression of erythropoietin by the human placenta. FASEB J 10:760-8