title: Differential regulation of myometrial prostaglandin production by changes in length.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether stretching and shortening of human myometrial strips alters prostaglandin production.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured 6-keto prostaglandin F1alpha (PGF1alpha; a PGI2 metabolite) and PGF2alpha in the contraction baths of myometrial strips that were obtained at cesarean delivery from 5 term pregnant women. Fluid was collected after the stretching and after the strip lengths were decreased by 4%, 6%, or 8%. Prostaglandin concentrations were measured in triplicate by competitive enzyme immunoassay and compared by Kruskal-Wallis tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stretching myometrial strips increased the production of 6-keto PGF1alpha by 31%, but not PGF2alpha. Shortening strips had little effect on 6-keto PGF1alpha production, but increased PGF2alpha production by 158%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stretching myometrial strips from pregnant women increases synthesis of PGI2; shortening strips increases synthesis of PGF2alpha. Differential prostaglandin synthesis that is related to myometrial stretching and shortening could play a role in uterine quiescence during gestation and increased contractility during parturition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals/MacDonald Women's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA. william.hurd@uhhospitals.org
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hurd
authors.forename: Shawn G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Kari A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rudinsky
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha