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The relationship between beta‐endorphin levels and uterine muscle contractions during labor
Author(s) -
Weissberg N.,
Algur N.,
Schwartz G.,
Shemesh O.,
Eylath U.,
Abraham A.S.
Publication year - 1990
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(90)90516-n
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , uterine contraction , beta endorphin , contraction (grammar) , uterus
Plasma β‐endorphin (BE) levels (8.6 ± 0.8 pmol/l) (mean ± SE) were lower in the third trimester than in non‐pregnant controls (14.8 ± 1.1 pmol/l) (P < 0.001), increased during labor, to 29.3 ± 4.4 pmol/l (P < 0.005) and decreased, 72 h after delivery, to 3.5 ± 0.4 pmol/l (P < 0.001). BE levels were found to correlate significantly with uterine muscle contraction (r = 0.966, P < 0.05) and with cervical effacement (r = 0.974, P < 0.05) during labor.