title: [Quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in women in pregnancy and labor].
abstract: We performed the quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test for normal peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to investigate the functions of PMNs during pregnancy and labor. The results were as follows. With regard to the spontaneous NBT test, the ability of PMNs to reduce NBT in pregnant and parturient women was significantly greater than to reduce NBT in non-pregnant women. The greatest ability was observed in PMNs in parturient women. With regard to the PMA-stimulated NBT test, the ability of PMNs to reduce NBT in pregnant and parturient women was significantly greater than to reduce NBT in non-pregnant women. Stimulation of NBT reduction was observed when PMNs were exposed to kallikrein. These results suggest that PMNs are so much affected by pregnancy that their functions are accelerated in pregnancy and labor, and that PMNs may have favorable effects on pregnancy and labor not only in the aspect of defense mechanisms but also in the aspect of the ripening of the uterine cervix, and that PMNs may be affected by kallikrein during labor.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts
chemical_list: D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D007610:Kallikreins