Abstract
Objective Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that the bufodienolide, marinobufagenin,
causes a syndrome in the pregnant rat that resembles human preeclampsia. Furthermore,
marinobufagenin urinary excretion is elevated in approximately 85% of preeclamptic
patients. Resibufagenin, an antagonist to marinobufagenin, completely prevents the
syndrome (hypertension, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction) if given
from early pregnancy.
Study Design We investigated the effects of another bufodienolide, cinobufatalin, to determine
if it, likewise, could induce the rat “preeclamptic” syndrome, which it did. We then
examined whether resibufagenin could prevent the syndrome due to cinobufatalin.
Results Resibufagenin improved hypertension but not proteinuria, and did not prevent uterine
growth restriction.
Conclusion We conclude that more than one bufodienolide may induce the preeclamptic syndrome
and that each may require a specific antagonist to prevent (or treat) the syndrome.
Keywords
preeclampsia - bufodienolides - marinobufagenin - resibufogenin - cinobufatalin
