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Effect of ACTH infusion on induction of uterine contraction in prolonged human pregnancy in association with endocrine function
Author(s) -
Miyakawa Isao,
Ichimaru Shunzo,
Tayama Chikayuki,
Ito Masaharu,
Mori Norimasa,
Maeyama Masao
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/0020-7292(81)90046-1
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , prolactin , hormone , endocrine system , estriol , saline , adrenocorticotropic hormone , pregnancy , oxytocin , uterine contraction , contraction (grammar) , uterus , biology , genetics
The role of hormonal interactions in the mechanism initiating labor in women was studied. The serum levels of cortisol, progesterone, estradiol estriol, human chorionic somatomammotropin, and prolactin were measured simultaneously before, during and after infusion of ACTH at a rate of 50 μg/h in 100 ml of physiological saline or infusion of physiological saline without ACTH (as control) at a rate of 100 ml/h into 14 pregnant women of 10 days or more beyond term. In five (group A) of the 10 women infused with ACTH, uterine contractions were induced within 5–15 min after beginning of ACTH infusion. Although the serum progesterone levels in group A were slightly, but not significantly, lower than those in the other five women (group B) in whom uterine contractions were not induced, the ratio of progesterone to estriol was 13/1 in group A and 18/1 in group B, respectively (P < 0.05). The endocrine levels in group A may be favorable for the initiation of uterine contraction. The serum cortisol levels in group A were higher, but not significantly higher, than those in group B after ACTH infusion. And the serum estriol levels 6 h after ACTH infusion were significantly lower than control levels before ACTH infusion (P < 0.01 in group A, P < 0.05 in group B). To the contrast, in all the four control women infused with physiological saline only (group C), neither uterine contractions nor changes in the serum levels of ACTH and cortisol were found. This work may show that ACTH infusion induced uterine contractions by increased corticosteroids via placenta in lower ratio of progesterone to estrogen but it does not provide any precise information on the mechanism of initiation of human labor.