Open AccessA comparative Study on the Influence of Prostaglandin E 1 , Oxytocin and Ergometrin on the Pregnant Human Uterus
Author(s) -
RothBrandel U.,
Bygdeman M.,
Wiqvist N.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347009158013
Subject(s) - oxytocin , medicine , uterus , prostaglandin , uterine contraction , contractility , prostaglandin e , pregnancy , endocrinology , biology , genetics
The influence of prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ), oxytocin and methyl ergometrin maleate (Mether‐gin®) on the contractility of the pregnant human uterus was compared in in vivo experiments on 8 early pregnant and 14 midpregnant women. The substances were administered intravenously in separate injections. With the doses used PGE 1 and oxytocin caused a marked elevation of tone whereas Methergin® had a less significant effect. The duration of the elevation of tone after PGE 1 was approximately three times longer than that after oxytocin but considerably shorter than after Methergin®. The motility pattern following Methergin® was characterized by small irregular contractions which differed completely from that after PGE 1 and oxytocin. The pharmacological effect of PGE 1 on the midpregnant uterus suggests that this substance might reduce blood loss and shorten the period of time for placental separation during the third stage of labour. However, this assumption could not be confirmed as judged from a small clinical pilot study carried out on 188 women.