Placental Aromatase Is Deficient in Placental Ischemia and Preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a maternal hypertensive disorder with uncertain etiology and a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide, causing nearly 40% of premature births delivered before 35 weeks of gestation. The first stage of preeclampsia is characterized by reduction of utero-placental blood flow which is reflected in high blood pressure and proteinuria during the second half of pregnancy. In human placenta androgens derived from the maternal and fetal adrenal glands are converted into estrogens by the enzymatic action of placental aromatase. This implies that alterations in placental steroidogenesis and, subsequently, in the functionality or bioavailability of placental aromatase may be mechanistically involved in the pathophysiology of PE.

Methods

Ser

SUBMITTER: Perez-Sepulveda A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4596497 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature