UMBILICAL ARTERIES OF BABIES BORN TO CIGARETTE SMOKERS GENERATE LESS PROSTACYCLIN AND CONTAIN LESS ARGININE AND CITRULLINE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF BABIES BORN TO CONTROL SUBJECTS

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of this study was that umbilical arteries of babies born to smoking mothers produce less nitric oxide and prostacy clin than do those of nonsmoking mothers. STUDY DESIGN: L-Arginine, L- citrulline, L-cysteine, and prostacyclin were measured in the umbilica l arteries of 11 babies born to smoking mothers and 16 infants born to nonsmoking controls. The concentrations in the two groups were compar ed with the modified t test. RESULTS: The generation of prostacyclin w as reduced in the umbilical arteries of infants of smoking mothers. Si milarly, L-arginine and L-citrulline, but not L-cysteine levels, in th ese arteries were suppressed compared with those of the nonsmoking con trols. CONCLUSION: Along with the known direct vasoconstrictive effect of nicotine, nitric oxide and prostacyclin deficiency may affect the uteroplacental blood flow and contribute to the impaired fetal nutriti on and increased perinatal mortality of babies born to women who smoke .