title: The metabolism of prostaglandin E2 by tissues from the human uterus and foeto-placental unit.
abstract: The biosynthesis and metabolism of prostaglandin E2 was studied in cell-free homogenates of tissues from the uterus and foeto-placental unit using specific in vitro methods. The results show that the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 is greater in endometrial tissue from the secretory phase (53.07 +/- 39.05; ng/100 mg wet tissue/h) than from the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle. Furthermore, endometrial tissue forms more of this compound than myometrium (P less than 0.005). During early pregnancy, synthesis is decreased (25.10 +/- 16.62); at term, myometrium produces more prostaglandin E2 than decidua. During labour, however, decidual tissue accumulates more of this compound (52.73 +/- 18.04) than either myometrium (34.71 +/- 13.19) or cord (28.63 +/- 11.71). The catabolic enzymes are most active in the placenta and chorion, followed by the cord, myometrium, decidua and amnion, but the differences have only a slight effect on the amounts of prostaglandin E2 which remain at the end of the incubation. The results suggest a high turnover of prostaglandin E2 in the decidua, myometrium and cord.
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008598:Menstruation; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D007213:Indomethacin