The relationship between fetal breathing movements and prostaglandin E2 during ACTH-induced labour in sheep.
We measured fetal breathing movements and fetal carotid arterial prostaglandin E concentrations during adrenocorticotrophin-induced labour in 6 pregnant sheep and in 6 control animals starting at day 127. The 6 ACTH-treated animals went into labour on average 97 h after the onset of infusion and the incidence of fetal breathing movements diminished during the last 12h before the onset of labour. There was a significant negative relationship between the incidence of fetal breathing movements and fetal carotid arterial prostaglandin E concentrations (r = -0.88; P less than 0.001) in ACTH treated animals. These data suggest a role for prostaglandin E in the diminution of fetal breathing movements prior to the onset of labour.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000196:embryology; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement; D007751:Labor, Induced; D011247:Pregnancy; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000097:blood*; D012119:Respiration; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology*
D011458:Prostaglandins E; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D015232:Dinoprostone