Related Experiment Videos
Prostacyclin production increases during human parturition
The role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in human parturition was studied by measuring the concentrations of its main metabolite, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, before, during and after term labour in the plasma of 9 women and after delivery in umbilical artery and vein plasma. The mean level of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha rose significantly over the course of labour. The mean level was 266 pg/ml before labour, 341 pg/ml in the presence of regular contraction, 387 pg/ml at a cervical dilatation of 5 cm, 386 pg/ml at delivery, and 397 pg/ml at the expulsion of the placenta. The 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration dropped to below pre-labour levels of 233 pg/ml within 2 hours of delivery, and this level was maintained for the first four postpartum days. The mean levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the umbilical artery and vein plasma, 1667 and 1193 pg/ml respectively, were significantly higher than the maternal plasma levels. PGI2 is characterized by its antiaggregatory and vasodilating abilities, so that the rise in PGI2 during labour may play a role in the prevention of intrapartum thromboembolic complications in the maternal and the uteroplacental circulation.
The role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in human parturition was studied by measuring the concentrations of its main metabolite, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, before, during and after term labour in the plasma of 9 women and after delivery in umbilical artery and vein plasma. The mean level of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha rose significantly over the course of labour. The mean level was 266 pg/ml before labour, 341 pg/ml in the presence of regular contraction, 387 pg/ml at a cervical dilatation of 5 cm, 386 pg/ml at delivery, and 397 pg/ml at the expulsion of the placenta. The 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration dropped to below pre-labour levels of 233 pg/ml within 2 hours of delivery, and this level was maintained for the first four postpartum days. The mean levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the umbilical artery and vein plasma, 1667 and 1193 pg/ml respectively, were significantly higher than the maternal plasma levels. PGI2 is characterized by its antiaggregatory and vasodilating abilities, so that the rise in PGI2 during labour may play a role in the prevention of intrapartum thromboembolic complications in the maternal and the uteroplacental circulation.