Corticotropin-releasing hormone increases prostaglandin F2 alpha activity on human myometrium in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to study the capability of synthetic corticotropin-releasing hormone to directly stimulate human myometrium and to modulate the activity of prostaglandins F2 alpha and E2.


METHODS
Strips from human myometrium were obtained from 127 elective cesarean sections at term. The in vitro effect of human rat corticotropin-releasing hormone on myometrial contractility has been studied in resting myometrial strips mounted in a two-chamber bath for isolated organs. Stimuli (corticotropin-releasing hormone, prostaglandins F2 alpha and E2, and oxytocin) were administered as one single dose in the perfusion chamber. In each experiment one myometrial strip was used as a control.


RESULTS
Corticotropin-releasing hormone significantly increases (p < 0.01) the myometrial response to prostaglandin F2 alpha. The hormone neither has a direct inotropic effect nor is it able to enhance the effect of prostaglandin E2 and oxytocin on myometrial strips.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone on the myometrial response to prostaglandin F2 alpha adds new support to the theory that placental corticotropins may modulate the onset of labor.
Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Turin, Italy.
C
C
Benedetto
F
F
Petraglia
L
L
Marozio
L
L
Chiarolini
P
P
Florio
A R
AR
Genazzani
M
M
Massobrio
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000502:physiology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009215:Myometrium / Q000502:physiology*
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone