SUPPRESSION OF CONCENTRATION OF ENDOMETRIAL PROSTAGLANDIN IN EARLY INTRA-UTERINE AND ECTOPIC PREGNANCY IN WOMEN

Abstract

Concentrations of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and prostaglandin E (PGE) were measured in endometrium from 18 women with ectopic pregnancies. In the nine pregnancies not associated with vaginal bleeding or an intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD; intact ectopics), concentrations of PGF2α (12·8 ± 7·4 (s.e.m.) ng/g) and PGE (4·7 ± 3·0 ng/g) were similar to those in decidua from nine intra-uterine pregnancies of comparable gestational age (14·4 ± 4·4 and 8·2 ± 2·2 ng/g respectively). In both ectopic and intra-uterine pregnancies concentrations of prostaglandins were significantly lower than those found in endometrium throughout the normal menstrual cycle (P < 0·01). In nine ectopic pregnancies with associated vaginal bleeding and/or an IUCD, concentrations of PGF2α and PGE were significantly higher than in the intact group (P < 0·05), although the concentration of PGF2α remained significantly lower than levels in normal secretory endometrium (P < 0·05). These results suggested that suppression of endometrial synthesis of prostaglandin during early pregnancy may be mediated systemically rather than through a local action of the conceptus.