An autoregulatory role for prostaglandins in placental hemodynamics: their possible influence on blood pressure in pregnancy.

This review asserts that prostaglandins of the E family play a vital regulatory role in uteroplacental blood flow. This role appears to be similar to activity within other organs, especially the kidney, in a process referred to as autoregulation of blood flow. This mechanism may serve as a system for ehmodynamic homeostasis in pregnancy. Moreover, hypertension in pregnancy (toxemia) may be due to a specific or generalized abnormality in this system.