Gene knockout mice in the study of parturition

Objective: To review recent studies of parturition control in mice with rel evance to understanding the control of human parturition. Methods: Assimilation of published studies of gene knockout mice with mutat ions in neuropeptides, prostaglandin synthetic enzymes and receptors, and o ther molecules implicated in parturition. Results: The central role of prostaglandins in murine labor is demonstrated by mice with gene mutations at multiple levels of the prostaglandin synthe tic pathway. In addition, novel molecules such as steroid 5 alpha-reductase are found to play an essential role in the progression of labor. Surprisin gly, deficiency of neuropeptides such as oxytocin and corticotropin-releasi ng hormone have little effect on parturition. Conclusion: Molecular genetic analyses in mice provide an efficient way to define molecules critical for murine parturition. Extrapolation of the impo rtance of these molecules to human parturition provides the next challenge. Copyright (C) 2000 by the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.