title: Magnesium and calcium concentration in the pregnant and non-pregnant myometrium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of labor on the magnesium and calcium concentrations in the human myometrium and to compare them with the concentrations in the non-pregnant uterus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of the isthmic part of the uterus were taken from 42 patients not in labor, 31 patients in regular labor during a cesarean section, and 37 premenopausal patients on whom a hysterectomy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (i) The magnesium concentration dropped significantly during labor; (ii) the calcium concentration in the tissue showed no significant changes during labor; (iii) the magnesium and calcium concentrations were significantly higher during pregnancy; (iv) the distribution of electrolytes in the myometrium differed significantly in the corpus, isthmus and cervix uteri.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The electrolyte concentration in the myometrium depends on the place of removal. A low magnesium concentration in the pregnant human myometrium could be a cause of premature labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cunze
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osmers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Warneke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuhn
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium