Effect of certain drugs in perfused human placenta XII: autacoid antagonism by phenothiazines.

The effects of chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, and trifluoperazine on the pressor actions of serotonin, angiotensin, and bradykinin in the perfused vessels of full-term human placentas were investigated. A significant inhibition of the effect of serotonin was observed with trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine but not with prochlorperazine. The inhibition is attributed to the ability of phenothiazines to cause adrenergic blockade. Because both bradykinin and angiotensin could not be consistently antagonized, it is concluded that they must act primarily via musculotropic mechanisms and only secondarily by stimulation of adrenergic receptors.