Prostaglandins, angiotensin and blood pressure in pregnant rabbits.

A total of 24 rabbits between days 26–29 gestation (term 31 days) were studied acutely. Five does had been pretreated with oral doses (40 mg p.d.) of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor (Flurbiprofen) since day 7 of gestation. Rabbits were anaesthetised with sodium phenobarbitone, 30 mg kg−1, and breathed spontaneously. The pressor response to stepwise increments of infused angiotensin II (AII) over the range 16–64 ng kg−1 min−1 was determined in all animals. The 19 does which had not received Flurbiprofen were then subdivided into 4 groups, receiving infusions either of normal saline, 0.1 ml min−1 (n=6) or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) at 10 ng kg−1 min (n=4), 20 ng kg−1 min (n=5) or 50 ng kg−1 min−1 (n=4). The infusions of AII were then repeated during the additional infusion.The administration of Flurbiprofen was associated with increased basal systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The doses of AII given evoked clear and consistent increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The previous admi...