The influence of ciclosporine A on the vasoactive effects of serotonin in in vitro perfused human umbilical arteries

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is feasible in organ-transplanted women, but little is known about possible effects of ciclosporine A on the circulation in the fetus and placenta. AIM: To investigate the influence of ciclosporine A (CsA) on the vasoactive effects of serotonin in human umbilical arteries. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: In vitro perfusion was performed in umbilical cord segments from seven organ-transplanted patients on CsA based immunosuppression and in 17 cords from uncomplicated pregnancies. Serotonin was administered in stepwise increasing concentrations from 10(-10) to 10(-5) M. In preparations from normal pregnancies, serotonin 10(-7) M, was administered before and 30 min after the start of a continuous CsA infusion (1.0 mg/l). The influence of CsA 0.1 or 1.0 mg/l on the basal, unstimulated perfusion pressure was investigated in separate experiments. OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in perfusion pressure due to constrictory or dilatatory responses. RESULTS: In all preparations from the organ-transplanted patients, serotonin induced a constrictory response that was non-significantly lower than that observed in the control group. The frequency of a dilatatory response preceding the vasoconstriction was 3/7 and 12/17 (non-significant) in the CsA-treated and control groups, respectively. In the experiments with CsA administration, a non-significant increase in the constrictory serotonin response was observed as compared to the control experiments. CsA did not alter the basal, unstimulated perfusion pressure. CONCLUSION: CsA did not have any significant influence on the vasoactive effect of serotonin in human umbilical arteries perfused in vitro.