Studies in the Involvement of Prostaglandins in Uterine Symptomatology and Pathology

Abstract

The concentrations of prostaglandins E, and F,, were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples of endometrial tissue from 155 women. The results showed that the concentration of prostaglandin E, (ng/100 mg of wet tissue; mean & SD) in tissue from apparently healthy women with regular menstrual cycles was 79 * 3 h 9 . 9 during the menstrual period. The level in the proliferative and early secretory phases fell to 1 1 .8 f 4 * 0 and 13 . 3 f 8 . 3 respectively. During the late secretory phase there was a significant increase to 20.1 flO.8. The corresponding values from patients with fibromyomata and without menorrhagia were similar. However, the concentration in tissue from patients with fibromyomata and menorrhagia was significantly higher (63.9h17.9) during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle. In addition, the amount was significantly higher in the groups with dysmenorrhoea (19.014.5 proliferative; 68.0f18.15 secretory) and irregular uterine bleeding (78.3159 a 0 proliferative; 87.4f64.9 secretory). The mean concentration was higher in cases of endometriosis, and significantly elevated in endometrial carcinoma. The results €or prostaglandin F,, showed a similar pattern, but the changes were less marked in patients with irregular dysfunctional bleeding. The findings are discussed.

J.E. Markee: Menstruation in intraocular endometrial transplants in the rhesus monkey

“…In agreement with this, the concentration of PGF,, is elevated in the late secretory and menstrual endometrium (Willman et al, 1976). Hence, PGF,, could be the unknown vasoconstrictor substance of Markee.…”

Peripheral plasma immunoreactive 6-oxo-postaglandin F1 α and gynaecological tumours

“…Primary prostaglandin concentrations are increased in plasma (Sanders et al, 1980), tumour tissues (Singh et al, 1976;Willman et al, 1976) and across the tumour bed (Stamford et al, 1980, derived from Mortel et al, 1977 in patients with gynaecological tumours. The lack of PG12 metabolism by the lung (Hawkins et al, 1978), and its spontaneous hydrolysis in plasma to 6-oxo-PGF1x, which has a relatively u I long half-life, both facilitates measurement and makes plasma measurements more meaningful than for the primary prostaglandins.…”

“…Increased synthesis of prostaglandins by tumour tissues of thyroid , phaeochromocytoma and bronchus (Sandler et al, 1968), kidney (Cummings & Robertson, 1977), breast (Bennett et al, 1975) and endometrium (Singh et al, 1976;Willman et al, 1976) have been described. Raised plasma levels of prostaglandins or their metabolites have been measured in the peripheral circulation and across the tumour bed in patients with both genitaltract and breast tumours (Sanders et al, 1980;Powles et al, 1977;Stamford et al, 1980, derived from Mortel et al, 1977.…”

The Management of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

“…The endometrium of women with menorrhagia has been found to have higher levels of PGE 2 and F 2a when compared with normal menses (Willman et al, 1976). Also, the ratio of prostaglandin E 2 to F 2 , and the ratio of prostaglandin I 2 to thromboxane are elevated resulting in deranged hemostasis (Smith et al, 1981;Makarainen & Ylikorkala, 1986).…”