title: A role for prostacyclin (PGi2) in excessive menstrual bleeding.
abstract: The synthesis of prostanoids from arachidonic acid incubated with endometrium alone or together with myometrium was studied in women with excessive menstrual blood-loss (range 57--186 ml, median 86 ml). Production of prostaglandins F2 alpha, E2, and D2 was similar to that observed for the endometrium of women with normal periods (range 5--50 ml; median 11 ml). However, the endometrium from women with excessive menstrual blood-loss was more effective than endometrium from women with normal menstrual blood-loss at enhancing the production by a control preparation of myometrium of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin. The ability of the uterus to generate prostacyclin, a prostaglandin known to inhibit platelet aggregation and stimulate vasodilatation, may influence the degree and duration of menstrual bleeding.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*; D011457:Prostaglandins D / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins; D011457:Prostaglandins D; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol