The regulation of the fetal growth-Assesment of feto-placental circulation and fetal growth promoting activity in the human fetus-

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We studied the findings to changes in the feto-placental circualtion in normal and growth retarded fetuses (IUGR). Using pulsed Doppler methodology, it was revealed that placental vascular resistance was elevated in cases of IUGR and of decreased cerebral vascular resistance in some cases. When the fetal hypoxia is superimposed, RI values in the middle cerebral artery decrease, suggesting a protective, compensatory mechanism designed to increase the blood supply to the fetal brain. From biological examination of endothelial cells in IUGR fetuses with normotensive and hypertensive women, it was evident that the serum factor cytotoxic to endothelial cell is present in cases with preeclampsia, whereas the serum growth inhibitory factor is present in cases with normotensive women. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that 1) one of the factor which regulate fetal growth is the pathological changes in the feto-placental circulation, 2) the endothelial cell function contribute to the mechanisms which change vascular resistance in the feto-placental circulation in the human fetus.