title: The relative abundance of type 1 to type 2 cyclo-oxygenase mRNA in human amnion at term.
abstract: The onset of labor in humans is associated with an increase in prostaglandin production. One of the key steps is the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2 by cyclo-oxygenase (Cox). Cox has been found to exist as two distinct genes, Cox-1 and Cox-2. We have used RT-PCR to study the relative abundance of mRNA from each Cox gene in amnion at term. Quantitation of PCR efficiency indicated an approximate 100 fold excess of Cox-2 messenger RNA over that for Cox-1. These data point to the importance of Cox-2 in the increased prostaglandin synthesis associated with labor. Further studies should therefore focus on the control mechanisms for Cox-2.
authors.affiliation: Action Research Laboratory for the Molecular Biology of Fetal Development, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000201:enzymology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases