Participación del sistema endocannabinoide en la regulación de moléculas vasoactivas en placenta humana

ABÁN C, CELLA M, PEREYRA JI, LEGUIZAMÓN G, FRANCHI A, FARINA M.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; XV Jornadas científicas de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2012

SAB

ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM PARTICIPATION INTHE REGULATORY VASOACTIVE MOLECULES INHUMAN PLACENTAAban CE1, Cella M2, Pereira JI3, Leguizamón GF3, Franchi A2,Farina AM1.1Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFYBO-UBACONICET;2Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de la Preñez y el Parto,Facultad de Medicina - UBA; 3Centro de Educación Médica eInvestigaciones Clínicas ( CEMIC), Unidad de Embarazo de AltoRiesgo, Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología.Anandamide (AEA), one of the most important endocannabinoid, isproduced by the human placenta. At term, the levels of AEA significantlyincrease during labor. In other tissues, it was found that thisendocannabinoid could regulate the production of prostaglandins (PG)and nitric oxide (NO), important molecules involved in the regulationof placental blood flow. Therefore, the aim of this study wasevaluate the role of AEA in the regulation of vasoactive molecules inhuman placenta. Methodology: we use term placentas (38-40 weeks)obtained from women with uncomplicated pregnancies after electivecesarean sections (without labor, STP) or vaginal delivery (withlabor, CTP). We performed RT-PCR and western blot, radioimmunoassay(PGs) and Bredt & Snyder technique (NOS activity). Results:We found that oxytocin (2.5-5 mUI / ml) diminished FAAHprotein expression, the principal enzyme involved in the catabolismof AEA, in placentas STP. Additionally, we observed that the AEAincreased NOS activity (P <0.01) and inhibited the production ofPGE2 and PGF2alpha in placentas without labor. On the other hand,AEA decreased (p <0.01) NOS activity without affecting the synthesisof PGs in placentas obtained from vaginal deliveries. Taken togetherthese results suggest that AEA, through its effect on NO synthesisand prostaglandins production, would be a necessary signal inthe regulation of progression and the onset of labor at term.