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The role of arginine vasopressin in human labour: functional studies, fetal production and localisation of V 1a receptor mRNA
Author(s) -
Thornton S.,
Baldwin P.J.,
Harris P.A.,
Harding F.,
Davison J.M.,
Baylis P.H.,
Timmons P.M.,
Wathes D.C.
Publication year - 2002
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.1471-0528.2002.01132.x
Subject(s) - vasopressin , medicine , endocrinology , oxytocin , arginine , myometrium , vasopressin receptor , umbilical artery , biology , fetus , receptor , uterus , pregnancy , amino acid , antagonist , biochemistry , genetics
Objective To investigate labour‐associated changes in: 1. the myometrial contractile response to arginine vasopressin compared with oxytocin in vitro 2. fetal production of arginine vasopressin and 3. myometrial vasopressin V 1a receptor mRNA. Design The contractile response to vasopressin (compared with oxytocin) was investigated in paired myometrial strips in vitro . Blood was taken from the umbilical artery and vein at delivery and arginine vasopressin measured by radio‐immunoassay. V 1a receptor mRNA was determined by in situ hybridisation. Results Myometrium was more sensitive to arginine vasopressin than oxytocin ( P <0.05 for frequency, amplitude and activity integral in paired strips ) after, but not before labour. There was a marked umbilical arteriovenous difference in arginine vasopressin concentration at delivery suggesting fetal production which was not influenced by labour. Myometrial vasopressin V 1a receptor mRNA was not increased after the onset of labour. Conclusions The human uterus is extremely sensitive to arginine vasopressin in vitro . Arginine vasopressin is produced by the fetus but fetal formation is not increased during labour.