Vascular angiotensin II and atrial natriuretic peptide receptors in normal and growth-retarded human placentae

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Abstract
Receptors for angiotensin II (AII) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were characterized in a membrane fraction from resistance-type artery from human placentae. Placentae from normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) were studied. High- and low-affinity receptors for AII (dissociation equilibrium constant (Kd) 1 ·7 and 15·7 nmol/l respectively) and ANP (Kd 0·2 and 55·5 nmol/l respectively) were identified; these parameters were unchanged in IUGR, but there was a reduction in high-affinity receptor number by approximately 50% for AII and 80% for ANP in this condition. Both peptides may have a role in the regulation of fetoplacental blood flow. The alterations in IUGR are consistent with sustained activation of the fetal reninangiotensin system and suggest altered vascular responsiveness to ANP. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 126, 341–347