Pa. Fernandes et al., PHASIC MATERNAL PROLACTIN SECRETION DURING SPONTANEOUS LABOR IS ASSOCIATED WITH CERVICAL DILATATION AND 2ND-STAGE UTERINE ACTIVITY, Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, 2(4), 1995, pp. 597-601
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we attempted to determine the physiologic ro
les of prolactin (PRL) and hCG during labor. METHODS: Serial blood sam
ples were collected from 19 women (15 multiparous and four nulliparous
) before, during, and after labor; assayed for PRL and hCG; and compar
ed with cervical dilatation and uterine contraction frequency. RESULTS
: Prolactin levels decreased in association with progressive cervical
dilatation during the first stage of labor and reached a nadir at full
dilatation. Thereafter, PRL increased rapidly during the second stage
of labor and peaked within 1 hour postpartum. Uterine contraction fre
quency also increased during the second stage and correlated significa
ntly (r(2) = 0.60; P = .0006) with levels of PRL. Levels of hCG increa
sed during labor and peaked at about the time of delivery. CONCLUSION:
These data suggest that phasic PRL secretion is associated with cervi
cal dilatation and that after transition to the second stage of labor,
uterine contraction frequency may be associated with the increase in
PRL levels.