LAUSR

Introduction Hypoxia is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia resulting in hypoxic stress in the placenta. Upon this stress the placenta will release placenta secreted messengers (PSMs) which will cause maternal endothelial dysfunction. Previous research suggests that the antioxidant quercetin exerts anti-hypertensive effects and endothelial relaxation via NO release. Objective To determine the vascular effect of PSMs released under hypoxia and to study the protective effect of quercetin on this process. Methods In this study 44 non-complicated placentas (GA > 37 weeks) were used. PSMs were generated by exposing healthy term placentas to hypoxia. Chorionic arteries were incubated with these PSMs +/− quercetin 3 and 20 μM and contractile responses were recorded over a two-hour period. PSMs generated under normoxic conditions were used as control. Endothelial dysfunction induced by PSMs was assessed by analyzing changes in contractile responses to KCl (62.5 mM) before and after exposure to the PSMs. Results PSMs released under hypoxia induced an increased contraction in chorionic arteries compared to PSMs released in the presence of quercetin and normoxic conditions (39.1 μm ± 5.9 vs. quercetin 3 μM: 17.5 μm ± 1.6 vs. quercetin 20 μM: −8.5 μm ± 2.2 vs. normoxic: 0.5 μm ± 0.8, p  Discussion Quercetin shows promising results for the protection against the PSMs released under preeclampsia-like stress conditions like placental hypoxia, which could eventually be used for prevention and/or treatment of preeclampsia.