Cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) analog, induces hypoxia in rat placenta: BOLD contrast MRI.Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast was used to monitor hypoxia induced by cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) analog, in the rat embryo-placental unit (EPU).It is suggested that PGF(2alpha) induces uteroplacental vasoconstriction in the rat, and that ET-1 may take part in mediating this effect, probably via activation of ETA receptor. The uteroplacental vasoconstriction induces hypoxia, as manifested by significant changes in BOLD MRI and by upregulation of VEGF. Cloprostenol is a synthetic analog of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). It is an FP receptor agonist and a potent luteolytic agent in rats and hamsters. Cloprostenol is the optically active, 15(R) enantiomer of cloprostenol responsible for the majority of its biological activity.
