Biomaterial Database

Initiation of human parturition. 1982

J R Okita, and P C MacDonald, and J M Johnston

Arachidonic acid (the precursor of prostaglandins of the 2-series and related compounds) is released from phosphatidylinositol in a reaction sequence catalyzed by three enzymes, i.e., phospholipase C, diacylglycerol lipase, and monoacylglycerol lipase. Diacylglycerol, an intermediate in this pathway, was found in human amnion tissue. The fatty acid composition of the diacylglycerol fraction of amnion tissue was very similar to that of the phosphatidylinositol fraction. The diacylglycerol content of human amnion tissue obtained during early labor was greater than that of amnion tissue obtained before the onset of labor. These findings are supportive of the proposition that arachidonic acid is released from the phosphatidylinositol of amnion tissue during human parturition.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D010716	Phosphatidylinositols	Derivatives of phosphatidic acids in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to the hexahydroxy alcohol, myo-inositol. Complete hydrolysis yields 1 mole of glycerol, phosphoric acid, myo-inositol, and 2 moles of fatty acids.	Inositide Phospholipid,Inositol Phosphoglyceride,Inositol Phosphoglycerides,Inositol Phospholipid,Phosphoinositide,Phosphoinositides,PtdIns,Inositide Phospholipids,Inositol Phospholipids,Phosphatidyl Inositol,Phosphatidylinositol,Inositol, Phosphatidyl,Phosphoglyceride, Inositol,Phosphoglycerides, Inositol,Phospholipid, Inositide,Phospholipid, Inositol,Phospholipids, Inositide,Phospholipids, Inositol
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
D002823	Chorion	The outermost extra-embryonic membrane surrounding the developing embryo. In REPTILES and BIRDS, it adheres to the shell and allows exchange of gases between the egg and its environment. In MAMMALS, the chorion evolves into the fetal contribution of the PLACENTA.	Chorions
D004075	Diglycerides	Glycerides composed of two fatty acids esterified to the trihydric alcohol GLYCEROL. There are two possible forms that exist: 1,2-diacylglycerols and 1,3-diacylglycerols.	Diacylglycerol,Diacylglycerols
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D005260	Female		Females
D005989	Glycerides	GLYCEROL esterified with FATTY ACIDS.	Acylglycerol,Acylglycerols
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000650	Amnion	The innermost membranous sac that surrounds and protects the developing embryo which is bathed in the AMNIOTIC FLUID. Amnion cells are secretory EPITHELIAL CELLS and contribute to the amniotic fluid.	Amniotic Membrane,Amnions,Amniotic Membranes,Membrane, Amniotic,Membranes, Amniotic