M. Rezapour et al., X-RAY-MICROANALYSIS OF MYOMETRIUM IN PARTURIENT WOMEN AT TERM, Journal of submicroscopic cytology and pathology, 28(1), 1996, pp. 75-80
The purpose of this study was to investigate the elemental composition
of myometrial cells from term parturient women with normal and dysfun
ctional labour. Myometrial biopsies were obtained from forty-four term
pregnant women undergoing Cesarean section. The patients were categor
ized according to uterine activity as follows: before labour, normal l
abour, labour successfully augmented by oxytocin, oxytocin-resistant l
abour, and labour arrested by terbutaline. X-ray microanalysis of free
ze-dried sections (16 Fun thick) of the myometrium was carried out. An
increase in intracellular phosphorus level (p<.01.) was noted in the
normal labour group compared to before labour. In patients with normal
labour, higher phosphorus (p<.009) and potassium (p<.005) were found
compared to oxytocin resistant labour. Patients with oxytocin resistan
t labour had lower intracellular potassium (p<.0006) and phosphorus (p
<.02), and higher chloride (p<.05) and sodium (p<.03) compared to leve
ls found in patients who responded to oxytocin treatment. In dysfuncti
onal (oxytocin-resistant) labour the ion distribution in the myometria
l cells might be disturbed. The reduced level of potassium and phospho
rus together with the high sodium and chloride levels found in patient
s with oxytocin resistant labour may be connected to an impairment in
sodium-potassium pump and muscle dysfunction, clinically diagnosed as
dystocia.