Expression of cyclooxygenase types 1 and 2 in human fetal membranes at term.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to compare the level of expression of both type 1 and type 2 cyclooxygenase genes before and after labor and to localize their expression within the fetal membranes.


METHODS
The sites of type 2 and type 1 cyclooxygenase messenger ribonucleic acid synthesis were identified with in situ hybridization. Expression of both types 1 and 2 cyclooxygenase was studied by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Cyclooxygenase type 2 and type 1 expression was localized within the amniotic epithelium and amniotic mesoderm. Type 1 but not type 2 enzyme was also expressed in the chorionic mesoderm. Expression of the type 2 enzyme was significantly increased with the onset of labor. Type 1 enzyme expression did not significantly change with labor.


CONCLUSIONS
It is most likely that it is the inducible type 2 cyclooxygenase enzyme that mediates the increase in prostaglandin synthesis in amnion with the onset of labor.
Slater
D M
DM
Action Research Laboratory, University of London, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, United Kingdom.
Berger
L C
LC
Newton
R
R
Moore
G E
GE
Bennett
P R
PR
D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002823:Chorion / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
D015335:Molecular Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase