Maternal smoking and impaired endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of uterine small arteries in vitro

Malene R Andersen, Niels Uldbjerg, Steen Stender, Kirsten Puk Sandager, Christian Aalkjær

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective This study aimed to investigate the endothelium-dependent relaxation of uterine small arteries from pregnant nonsmokers, smokers, and ex-smokers who stopped smoking early in pregnancy. Study Design Uterine arteries were dissected from myometrial biopsies obtained during elective cesarean sections of 34 uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies, and the vascular function was assessed in a wire myograph for isometric recordings. Serum cotinine verified self-reported smoking; 15 were nonsmokers, 10 were smokers, and 9 were ex-smokers. Results Arteries from smokers and ex-smokers had reduced bradykinin-induced relaxation compared to arteries from nonsmokers (P < .05). The relaxation response to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside was similar in arteries from nonsmokers and smokers but was better in arteries from ex-smokers (P < .05). Conclusion The findings suggest that maternal smoking reduces endothelium-dependent nitric oxidemediated relaxation in uterine small arteries and that smoking cessation early in pregnancy does not fully abolish this deleterious effect, despite improvement in relaxation to nitroprusside.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    Volume204
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)177.e1–177.e7
    ISSN0002-9378
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Feb 2011

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