Regional circulatory contributions to increased systemic vascular conductance of pregnancy

D. Curran-Everett, K. G. Morris Jr and L. G. Moore Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratory, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262. In pregnancy, maternal systemic vascular conductance increases, a new vascular circuit grows, and the maternal systemic circulation develops a diminished pressor response to angiotensin II (ANG II). However, the quantitative contributions of the latter two circulatory changes to the increased systemic vascular conductance of pregnancy have not been explored. In this experiment, we examined regional circulatory contributions to the increased systemic vascular conductance in conscious, late-gestation guinea pigs. Systemic arterial pressure, cardiac output (dye dilution), and regional blood flows (radiolabeled microspheres) were measured during baseline conditions and progressive ANG II infusion. Systemic and regional conductances were calculated from arterial pressure and cardiac output or regional blood flows. In pregnancy, maternal systemic vascular conductance increased from 3.2 to 5.0 ml.min-1.mmHg-1 (P less than 0.001); increased nonuteroplacental conductance contributed 71% to the increase in whole body conductance. Pregnancy tended to decrease the nonuteroplacental conductance response (P = 0.072), but did not change the uteroplacental conductance response (P greater than or equal to 0.29), to ANG II. The increased uteroplacental blood flow of pregnancy was preserved during ANG II-induced vasoconstriction. We conclude that maternal systemic vascular conductance increased primarily because nonuteroplacental vascular conductance increased.