Doppler analysis and placental nitric oxide synthase expression during fetal growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess placental nitric oxide (NO) metabolism related to changes in the uteroplacental circulation during fetal growth restriction (FGR).

METHODS: The resistance index (RI) from the uterine arteries and pulsatility index (PI) from the umbilical artery were determined by Doppler analysis in 15 patients with FGR and 12 healthy controls, before elective cesarean section. Inducible (iNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) NO synthase expression were measured in placental samples. Immunohistochemistry was performed for iNOS location in the placenta.

RESULTS: During FGR, we observed a significant elevation of iNOS when compared with controls. Conversely, eNOS did not differ between the two groups. A negative correlation with eNOS (r = -0.85) and a positive correlation with iNOS (r = 0.91) was found correlating to umbilical PI. The iNOS proteins were reduced in syncytiotrophoblast cells and increased in endothelium in the FGR group compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS: During FGR, placental iNOS expression is significantly increased; this increase possibly represents an adaptive physiological mechanism for overcoming a fetoplacental circulation deficiency.