# ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS OF THE PLACENTA

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $99,616

## Abstract

The proposed studies address the general hypothesis that in preeclampsia,
a hypertensive disease of pregnancy that is a leading cause of indicated
premature delivery and fetal growth retardation, there is abnormal
placenta production of lipid peroxides and vasoactive eicosanoids, and
that these abnormalities contribute to the clinical symptoms of the
disorder, such as hypertension, proteinuria and reduced uteroplacental
blood flow. The proposed studies address mechanisms whereby placenta
production of prostacyclin (PGl2), a hypotensive agent, is decreased and
that of thromboxane (TX), a hypertensive agent, is increased in
preeclampsia.  Increased placental TX production in preeclampsia could be
coupled to an increase in placenta secretion of lipid peroxides. Lipid
peroxides can damage cell membranes, so elevated levels of lipid peroxides
could be related to endothelial cell injury and decreased PG12 in
preeclampsia. Placentas will be obtained from normally pregnant women and
women with preeclampsia. Placental tissues will be incubated or perfused
in vitro to study production rates, secretion rates and regulatory
factors. Eicosanoids will be measured by specific radioimmunoassays and
lipid peroxides by glutathione peroxidase/reductase oxidation of NADPH and
malondialdehyde generation. The specific aims are to determine: i) The
compartmentalizatlon of TX and lipid peroxides in the human placenta and
the control of their production rates by the trophoblast and
cyclooxygenase enzyme in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies; 2) Whether
compartmentalization of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) production in
the placenta can explain trophoblast inhibition of placental thromboxane;
3) Mechanisms for placenta vasoconstriction relating to an imbalance
between TX and PG12 and increased levels of lipid peroxides.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198129
- **Project number:** 5R01HD020973-08
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MLQFL4JSSAA9
- **Principal Investigator:** SCOTT W WALSH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $99,616
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-02-10 → 1997-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198129, ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS OF THE PLACENTA (5R01HD020973-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198129. Licensed CC0.

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