[Effect of castor oil-diet on the initiation of labor of pregnant rat].
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.
Gao
J
J
PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730.
Sun
N
N
Wang
F
F
Hao
N
N
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
D012277:Ricinoleic Acids; D002368:Castor Oil