Effect of ACTH infusion on induction of uterine contraction in prolonged human pregnancy in association with endocrine function.
The role of hormonal interactions in the mechanism initiating labor in women was studied. The serum levels in women was studied. The serum levels of cortisol, progesterone, estradiol estriol, human chorionic somatomammotropin, and prolactin were measured simultaneously before, during and after infusion of ACTH at a rate of 50 microgram/h in 100 ml of physiological saline or infusion of physiological saline without ACTH (as control) at a rate of 100 ml/h into 14 pregnant women of 10 days or more beyond term. In five (group A) of the 10 women infused with ACTH. uterine contractions were induced within 5-15 min after beginning of ACTH infusion. Although the serum progesterone levels in group A were slightly, but not significantly, lower than those in the other five women (group B) in whom uterine contractions were not induced, the ratio of progesterone to estriol was 13/1 in group A and 18/1 in group B, respectively (P less than 0.05). The endocrine levels in group A may be favorable for the initiation of uterine contraction. The serum cortisol levels in group A were higher, but not significantly higher, than those in group B after ACTH infusion. And the serum estriol levels 6 h after ACTH infusion were significantly lower than control levels before ACTH infusion (P less than 0.01 in group A, P less than 0.05 in group B). To the contrast, in all the four control women infused with physiological saline only (group C), neither uterine contractions nor changes in the serum levels of ACTH and cortisol were found. This work may show that ACTH infusion induced uterine contractions by increased corticosteroids via placenta in lower ratio of progesterone to estrogen but it does not provide any precise information on the mechanism of initiation of human labor.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged / Q000187:drug effects*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
D004967:Estrogens; D006728:Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D010928:Placental Lactogen; D006854:Hydrocortisone