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Maternal prolactin secretion is phasic during induced term and post-term labor
P A Fernandes1, S R Koodoo, A M Wodzicki
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Women's Hospital, Winnipeg, Canada.
Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Maternal prolactin (PRL) secretion follows a biphasic pattern during induced labor, decreasing in the first stage and increasing in the second. This pattern is consistent across various labor induction methods.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Spontaneous labor is characterized by a biphasic secretion pattern of maternal prolactin (PRL).
- Understanding hormonal changes during labor is crucial for managing pregnancy and delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether different labor induction regimens alter the biphasic secretion of maternal prolactin (PRL) observed during spontaneous labor.
Main Methods:
- Serial blood samples were collected from 12 women undergoing induced labor.
- Samples were analyzed for PRL and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels.
- Data were correlated with cervical dilatation and uterine contraction frequency (UCF).
Main Results:
- Maternal PRL levels decreased during the first stage of labor, reaching a minimum at full dilatation.
- PRL levels increased significantly during the second stage, correlating with uterine contraction frequency.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels rose during labor, peaking around delivery.
Conclusions:
- The biphasic secretion pattern of maternal PRL is a fundamental aspect of active term labor.
- This hormonal pattern persists irrespective of the method employed for labor induction.