Biomaterial Database

Prostacyclin formation by myometrial & decidual fractions of the pregnant rat uterus. 1978

K I Williams, and A Dembinska-Kieć, and A Zmuda, and R J Gryglewski

Chopped samples of myometrium, decidua and extrinsic blood vessels from the pregnant rat uterus when incubated at room temperature generated a prostacyclin-like substance. Activity in the incubation mixtures was compared against authentic prostacyclin in two assay systems: relaxation of strips of bovine coronary artery and inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation of rabbit platelet-rich plasma. Results estimated from inhibition of platelet aggregation showed that activity generated by all samples was low on day 12 of pregnancy (less than 0.25 ng/mg). However at the time of delivery (day 22) myometrial synthesis had increased 18.5 fold to over 3 ng/mg of prostacyclin whereas decidual production had only increased 5 times. As there was no increase in synthesis by the extrinsic uterine blood vessels over this period it is proposed that the myometrial muscle cells are the probable source of the prostacyclin-like material.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009215	Myometrium	The smooth muscle coat of the uterus, which forms the main mass of the organ.	Uterine Muscle,Muscle, Uterine,Muscles, Uterine,Uterine Muscles
D010974	Platelet Aggregation	The attachment of PLATELETS to one another. This clumping together can be induced by a number of agents (e.g., THROMBIN; COLLAGEN) and is part of the mechanism leading to the formation of a THROMBUS.	Aggregation, Platelet
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011270	Pregnancy, Animal	The process of bearing developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero in non-human mammals, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Animal Pregnancies,Animal Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Animal
D011453	Prostaglandins	A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiological processes.	Prostaglandin,Prostanoid,Prostanoids
D011464	Epoprostenol	A prostaglandin that is a powerful vasodilator and inhibits platelet aggregation. It is biosynthesized enzymatically from PROSTAGLANDIN ENDOPEROXIDES in human vascular tissue. The sodium salt has been also used to treat primary pulmonary hypertension (HYPERTENSION, PULMONARY).	Prostacyclin,Prostaglandin I2,Epoprostanol,Epoprostenol Sodium,Epoprostenol Sodium Salt, (5Z,9alpha,11alpha,13E,15S)-Isomer,Flolan,Prostaglandin I(2),Veletri
D003656	Decidua	The hormone-responsive glandular layer of ENDOMETRIUM that sloughs off at each menstrual flow (decidua menstrualis) or at the termination of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the thickest part of the decidua forms the maternal portion of the PLACENTA, thus named decidua placentalis. The thin portion of the decidua covering the rest of the embryo is the decidua capsularis.	Deciduum,Deciduas
D005260	Female		Females
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D000244	Adenosine Diphosphate	Adenosine 5'-(trihydrogen diphosphate). An adenine nucleotide containing two phosphate groups esterified to the sugar moiety at the 5'-position.	ADP,Adenosine Pyrophosphate,Magnesium ADP,MgADP,Adenosine 5'-Pyrophosphate,5'-Pyrophosphate, Adenosine,ADP, Magnesium,Adenosine 5' Pyrophosphate,Diphosphate, Adenosine,Pyrophosphate, Adenosine