The effect of ephedrine upon uterine artery blood flow velocity in the pregnant guinea pig subjected to terbutaline infusion and acute hemorrhage

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of intravenously administered ephedrine upon uterine artery blood flow velocity (UBFV) in the gravid guinea pig subjected to terbutaline infusion and acute hemorrhage. Ephedrine, 1.0 mg/kg, was administered intravenously to ten chronically instrumented pregnant guinea pigs near term, before and after intravenous infusion of terbutaline and acute hemorrhage. Before terbutaline and hemorrhage, ephedrine increased maternal mean arterial pressure (MMAP) by 30 ± 1% (P = .0001) and 17 ± 1% (P = .0001) at 30 s and at 1 min after injection, respectively; UBFV was decreased by 10 ± 4% (P < .01) and 14 ± 4% (P