Endogenous prostaglandins and the initiation of labor

An attempt to define the role of the prostaglandins in human parturition must necessarily be fragmentary at the present time. However, there is no doubt that considerable progress has been made during the last few years and that the prostaglandins have been established as important key intermediates in the complex hormonal and mechanical events integrated in the process. Improved chemical methods for the determination of prostaglandins in body fluids and tissues as well as some evidence of indirect nature have contributed to a better understanding of this complex problem.