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Prostaglandin E production by amniotic cells in relation to term and preterm labour
Author(s) -
LÓPEZ BERNAL A.,
HANSELL DEBBIE J.,
ALEXANDER OPHIE,
TURNBULL A. C.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb03756.x
Subject(s) - amnion , preterm labour , radioimmunoassay , prostaglandin e , prostaglandin e2 , arachidonic acid , collagenase , prostaglandin , endocrinology , caesarean section , basal (medicine) , medicine , andrology , pregnancy , biology , gestation , fetus , biochemistry , enzyme , genetics , insulin
Summary. The rate of prostaglandin E (PGE) production was measured in collagenase‐dispersed amniotic cells obtained from 14 women after spontaneous labour at term—seven after spontaneous preterm labour, nine after delivery by elective caesarean section at term and six after induction of labour at term. Cells were incubated with and without arachidonic acid and PGE was estimated by specific radioimmunoassay. Basal PGE output (pmol/10 6 cells per 3 h) was highest in the spontaneous labour group, 27·5 (SEM 5·5) and lowest in the preterm labour group, 4 (SEM 1·2) ( P <0·001). Values in the elective section and induction groups were 13·6 (SEM 2·7) and 10 (SEM 3·1), respectively; these values were significantly higher than in the preterm labour group and the values after induction were significantly lower than after spontaneous labour. Addition of arachidonic acid resulted in a significant increase in PGE output in all groups, but the values after preterm labour remained significantly lower than those of any group at term. These data indicate that towards term there is a maturation in the PG synthetase activity of the amnion and that PGE output in this tissue is increased in spontaneous labour.