The objective of this study was determine whether early administration of 17-OHPC could improve pregnancy outcomes in response to placental ischemia. Methods. To do so, 17-OHPC (3.32 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on gestation day 15 to reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rats, UARI was measured using Doppler ultrasound and carotid catheters were inserted on day 18.
Blood pressure (MAP), sFlt-1, and placental cytolytic NK cells were measured on GD 19. MAP in normal pregnant (NP) rats (n = 12) was 94 + 2, 126 + 2 in RUPP (n = 27) and 111 + 1 mmHg in RUPP + 17-OHPC (n = 15), p < 0.05. Pup weight was 2.3 + 0.09 in NP, 1.9 + 0.04 in RUPP rats, which improved to 2.1 + 0.06 g in RUPP + 17-OHPC p < 0.05. UARI was 0.6 + 0.01 in NP (n = 3), 0.8 + 0.03 in RUPP rats (n = 4), which improved to 0.6 + 0.04 in RUPP + 17-OHPC (n = 5), p < 0.05. Total number of placental NK cells was 8.6 + 3.1 in NP, 20.2 + 2.4 in RUPP rats, which decreased to 1.6 + 0.54% in RUPP+17-OHPC, p < 0.05. Activated placental NK cells was 3.8 + 2.2 in NP, 11.9 + 2.01 in RUPP , which improved to 0.4 + 0.2% in RUPP + 17-OHPC, p < 0.05. Plasma sFlt-1 was 36.1 + 7.5, 385.9 + 141 in RUPP rats (n = 5), which was blunted to 110.2 + 11.1 pg/mL in RUPP+17-OHPC, p < 0.05. Plasma NOx was 10.82 + 2.3 in RUPP rats (n = 13) but was improved to 25.5 + 5.2 μM in RUPP + 17-OHPC (n = 5), p < 0.05.
Early administration of 17-OHPC improves sFtl-1, UARI, activated cytolytic NK cells, pup weight, NO bioavailability and hypertension in response to placental ischemia. Therefore, 17-OHPC should be further considered for addition to the management of PE.