Prostacyclin-Like Activity in Umbilical Arteries Is Dose-Dependently Reduced by Maternal Smoking and Related to Nicotine Levels

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Abstract
The influence of maternal smoking on the formation of prostacyclin-like activity in human umbilical arteries was studied in 84 unselected term deliveries. In arteries from infants of nonsmoking mothers the prostacyclin-like activity measured by a bioassay technique amounted to 81 ± 37 ng/g (mean ± SD), and in those from smokers to 67 ± 35 ng/g (p < 0.05). When smokers were divided into those smoking 10 cigarettes daily or more and those smoking 1–9 cigarettes per day, only arteries of infants of the heavier smokers showed a significantly reduced prostacyclin-like activity (56 ± 27 ng/g; p < 0.02). Nicotine and cotinine levels were weakly inversely correlated to prostacyclin-like activity (p < 0.05). Reduced prostacyclin production in umbilical arteries implies reduced capacity for vasodilation and lowered defence against fetal hypoxia in heavy smokers.

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