[Effect of mifepristone on the concentration of epidermal growth factor in serum and villi of early pregnant women].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the change of epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in serum and villi of early pregnant women and its possible effects by mifepristone.


METHODS
Twenty normal women as control and sixty-six early pregnant women were enrolled for study. Serum EGF, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) concentrations were measured with radioimmunoassay. EGF concentration in villi by surgical aspiration and mifepristone induced abortion were compared.


RESULTS
Serum EGF concentration in early pregnant women was significantly higher than that in non-pregnant women (P < 0.01). The serum EGF, E2 and P concentrations increased as pregnancy advanced (P < 0.05). The growth rate of gestational sac declined and serum EGF and P concentrations decreased slightly after administration of mifepristone. Villi EGF content in mifepristone group was significantly lower than that in surgical group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EGF may be involved in regulating embryo development. Mifepristone may interfere embryonic development via inhibiting EGF level.
Yang
Q
Q
First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Medical University, Wuhan.
Yang
X
X
Xu
W
W
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D015735:Mifepristone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor