title: Effects of platelet-activating factor on prostaglandin E2 production by intact fetal membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hypothesis tested in this study is that platelet-activating factor increases prostaglandin E2 synthesis from fetal membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal membrane disks obtained before or after labor were incubated with or without platelet-activating factor for time periods of up to 24 hours. The production of prostaglandin E2 and its inactive metabolites was determined by specific radioimmunoassays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet-activating factor (1 to 10 mumol/L) stimulated the production of prostaglandin E2 and its metabolites by intact fetal membranes and chorion-decidua threefold to fourfold after 24 hours of incubation. Platelet-activating factor had far greater effects on the production of prostaglandin E2 by intact fetal membranes obtained after the onset of labor, such that prostaglandin E2 production was increased by tenfold to 100-fold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that platelet-activating factor mainly stimulates prostaglandin E2 production by the chorion-decidua before labor and that it may act in synergism with other stimulatory factors present in the fetal membranes during labor.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism*; D002823:Chorion / Q000378:metabolism*; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D015232:Dinoprostone