The fetal-placental circulations of perfused human placental cotyledons from normotensive and pregnancy-induced hypertensive pregnancies were used to determine if an imbalance in PGI2/TxA2 production existed and its relationship to the responses of the fetal-placental circulation to vasoconstriction. Studies were also conducted on the effects of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia, hypoxia, and drugs.