REMZİ GÖKDENİZ, MUHİTTİN YÜREKLİ, ALANUR MENEKŞE, NURSEL BAZOĞLU
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences - 2000;30(3):281-284
Adrenomedullin (AdM) is a novel peptide that elicits a long-lasting vasorelaxant activity. It is expressed in several tissues, including adrenal medulla, heart, lung, kidneys, and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Also in large amounts, it is present in amniotic fluid and cord blood. The aim of this study was to assess placental AdM secretion in preeclampsia. Placental tissues were collected from seven preeclamptic patients and ten healthy gravidas. Tissue concentration of rat AdM was measured by using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (Cecil 1100). Mann Whitney U test was used for statistical significance. Significance was set at p<0.05. AdM concentrations were 144.1±3.20 pmol/ml and 178.7±4.4 pmol/ml in preeclamptics and healthy gravidas respectively. This difference was significant (p<0.05). These data suggest that placental synthesis of AdM in preeclampsia is reduced, and low production of AdM may be responsible for placental pathology in preeclampsia.
