title: [Effect of castor oil-diet on the initiation of labor of pregnant rat].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to explor the effect of castor oil-diet, on the intiation of labor of preganant rat and determine what the active component of castor oil-diet was.
  
  
  METHODS
  The time of the intiation of labor and course of delivery were observed by gavaged rats castor oil-diet at 18, 19 and 20 days of gestation. The compositions of fat acid of castor oil-diet and castor oil were analyzed by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The castor oil-diet could induce the initiation of labor and shorte the course of the delivery in pregnant rats. Ricinoleic acid was the active component of castor oil-diet in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant rats by gavaged castor oil-diet could serve as the animal model for induction of labor. Ricinoleic acid is likely the chief component to the induction of labor.
authors.affiliation: PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012277:Ricinoleic Acids / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012277:Ricinoleic Acids; D002368:Castor Oil