I plan to study the production and regulation of placentally produced eicosanoids (prostacyclin, thromboxane, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) and leukotrienes) in both normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertension (preecalmpsia). Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of fetal growth retardation, premature delivery and maternal death. Human placental tissues will be incubated in vitro to study production rates and regulatory factors. Eicosanoids will be measured by radioimmunoassay. Specifically, I will study: 1) the regulation of placental prostacyclin and thromboxane production, and the etiology of their imbalance of increased thromboxane/decreased prostacyclin in preeclampsia; 2) the regulation of placental HETEs and leukotrienes and the etiology of the 5- and 12-lipoxygenase deficiencies in preeclampsia; 3) the regulatory interactions that exist between the cyclooxygenase (prostaglandins and thromboxane) and lipoxygenase (HETEs and leukotrienes products of arachidonic acid metabolism; 4) the production rates of leukotrienes in normal and preeclamptic placentas.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD020973-03A1
Application #
3319506
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 2 (HED)
Project Start
1985-02-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77225
Vaughan, John E; Walsh, Scott W (2012) Activation of NF-?B in placentas of women with preeclampsia. Hypertens Pregnancy 31:243-51