Maternal plasma prostaglandin E2 metabolite levels during human pregnancy and parturition

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary. Because of methodological problems associated with the measurement in biological fluids of both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its unstable principal circulating metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 (PGEM), there is little reliable information on these prostaglandins in human pregnancy and parturition. The recent discovery of a stable PGEM degradation product 11-deoxy-13,14-dihydro-15-keto-11β, 16-cyclo-PGE2 (bicyclo-PGEM) has provided a means of studying endogenous plasma levels of PGEM which circumvents the problems encountered with direct measurements of PGE2 and PGEM. Using a radioimmunoassay for bicyclo-PGEM we have therefore determined maternal peripheral plasma PGE2 metabolite levels during human gestation. PGE2 metabolite levels did not alter significantly during the second or third trimesters nor during labour. This contrasts with maternal peripheral plasma levels of the principal circulating metabolite of PGF2α 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α (PGFM) which increases several fold during labour. Compared t o PGE2 therefore. PGF2α may be quantitatively the more significant prostaglandin associated with human parturition.

This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit: