Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) activity and PGHS-1 and -2 messenger ribonucleic acid abundance in human chorion throughout gestation and with preterm labor

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
J E MijovicD M Olson

Abstract

Term and preterm parturition is associated with elevated intrauterine PG production. Although an increase of PG synthesis by the fetal membranes during term labor is well documented, there is little data available regarding the prostanoid production of these tissues at term, before the spontaneous onset of labor. In the present study, we determined the expression of PG H2 synthase (PGHS), the committing and rate-limiting enzyme of prostanoid biosynthesis, in the chorion laeve during gestation. Tissues were collected from 18 patients at term (37-41 weeks of gestation) and from 13 patients between 17 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. None of the patients were in labor. PGHS-specific activity and the abundance of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding the two PGHS isoenzymes (the constitutive PGHS-1 and the inducible PGHS-2) were measured by a cell-free enzyme assay and specific ribonuclease protection assays, respectively. PGHS-specific activity as well as PGHS-1 and -2 mRNA levels were significantly (P < 0.01) higher at term before labor than earlier during gestation. Furthermore, PGHS activity at term exhibited significant positive correlation with PGHS-2 mRNA levels, but not with PGHS-1 mRNA levels. In situ hybridization indicated that the ...Continue Reading

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