Effect of cervical application of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ on plasma 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto‐PGF_2α and oxytocin in pregnant women at term

Abstract

Summary. The concentrations of 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto‐prostaglandin F2α (PGFM) and oxytocin were measured by radioimmunoassay in the peripheral plasma of 21 women with low Bishop scores in whom cervical ripening and labour were induced with a cervical cap containing 1.5 mg of prostaglandin (PG) E2, left in place for 6 h. Blood samples were taken before and at 3, 6, 9 and 24 h after the cap was applied. Four women (control group) had a cap without PGE2. Labour began in 13 women receiving PGE2, 12 of whom were delivered within 24 h. In these women plasma PGFM rose progressively to levels seen during spontaneous labour, paralleling the changes in cervical dilatation. The increase became significant at 6 h, when cervical dilatation was 4.5 cm (SEM 0.5). Plasma oxytocin also increased significantly while the cap was in place and then decreased. Plasma PGFM and oxytocin did not change in the control subjects, and in the eight women needing further induction of labour the initial rises were transient and not statistically significant.

The effects of pelvic neurectomy on collagen in the cervix of the pseudopregnant rat

“…Dramatic structural and functional changes occur in the rat cervix prior to parturition (Williams et al, 1982). These changes, collectively referred to as "cervical ripening" are controlled, at least partially, by prostaglandins (Hillier and Wallis, 1982;Theobald et al, 1982;Rath et al, 1982;Norstrom et al, 1983;Fuchs et al, 1983;Uldbjerg et al, 1983) and neurotransmitters (Hollingsworth, 1974;Hollingsworth and Isherwood, 1979).…”

Geburtseinleitung durch intravaginale Applikation von Prostaglandin E2-haltigen Tabletten

“…Aus dem Ergebnis unserer PGFM-Bestimmungen lässt sich nur festhalten, dass offensichtlich auch nach Geburtseinlei tung durch intravaginale Verabfolgung von PGE2 die endogene PGF-Synthese stimuliert wird. Eine ähnliche Beobachtung konnten wir nach Einlei tung mittels perizervikaler Instillation einer PGE2-haltigen wässrigen Lö sung machen [10]. Für einen vorwiegend lokalen Effekt spricht jedenfalls die Tatsache, dass trotz äusserst kurzer Geburtszeiten, systemische Neben wirkungen wie sie bei intravenöser oder oraler PGE2-Applikation bekannt sind, vollständig ausblieben.…”

Uterotonic Plants and their Bioactive Constituents

“…It circulates as a free peptide in the bloodstream and, as with all hypothalamic hormones, is released discontinuously in a pulsatile fashion [15]. Its release into the bloodstream can be stimulated by the administration of PGs [16] or dopamine [17]. OT mediates most of its effects through the OT receptor (OTR), which is a member of the OT/vasopressin GPCR family [18] of the Gα q subfamily, to stimulate PLC activity [19].…”