Implication of prostaglandins in term and post-term human labour: role of nitric oxide

The aim of this work was to investigate not only the role of interleukin(1 alpha) (IL1 alpha) as a precursor in prostanoid synthesis in term and post- term labour placentas but also whether this process is mediated by nitric o xide (NO). We examined the possible interrelationship between NO, IL1 alpha and prostaglandins (PGs) in the human placenta from term and post-term lab our. Our findings indicate that there was no difference between nitric oxid e synthetase (NOS) activity of placenta from term and post-term labour; PG production did not differ in the two types of placenta, and only placenta f rom term delivery augmented PG production and NOS activity in response to I L1 alpha. The fact that PGs and NOS activity increased in at-term placenta after incubation with IL1 alpha suggests that NO may be implicated in the m echanism of the onset of delivery. Med Sci Res 27:67-69 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.