Maternal and fetal prostaglandin concentrations during late gestation in dairy cattle

A study was conducted to measure the blood plasma concentrations of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin E2 (PGEM) in the jugular vein, umbilical vein and artery and uterine vein of 18 Holstein Friesian cows during late gestation. A caesarean section was performed on all cows before term in order to obtain blood samples from the different sources. Plasma PG concentrations in the uterine or fetal circulation were significantly higher than in jugular vein plasma. Correlations between peripheral PG metabolite concentrations and primary PG concentrations in the various sources of the uterus or fetus were not significant (r = .17-.47) and demonstrated that prostaglandin values based upon peripheral blood alone are of limited value.