Regulation of collagen dissolution in the human cervix by oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone

Explants of non-pregnant human cervix in culture for 10 days spontaneously synthesized collagenolytic enzymes with dissolved the collagen in the tissue, resulting in the release of hydroxyproline-containing peptides. Progesterone at 8 X 10(-7) M and oestradiol-17 beta at 4 X 10(-6) M reduced this breakdown by 50%, but oestradiol-17 beta was only inhibitory if the tissue was maintained in an oestrogen-containing environment throughout the preparation of the tissue explants. We conclude that the connective tissue matrix of the human cervix is partly under hormonal control.

Prostaglandin E and F concentrations in placentae of normal, hypertensive and pre-eclamptic patients

The prostaglandins E and F were measured by radioimmunoassay in placentae from 23 normotensive, 25 hypertensive and 13 pre-eclamptic patients. The prostaglandin E levels were respectively (pg/mg +/- SEM) 16.34 +/- 2.06, 16.75 +/- 2.52 and 12.10 +/- 3.63. The prostaglandin F levels were 2.43 +/- 0.41, 2.70 +/- 0.42 and 2.06 +/- 0.31. These prostaglandin concentrations did not differ significantly. Local ischaemia may, therefore, be explained by altered responsiveness to these prostaglandins or to changes in other prostaglandins (such as the vasodilator PGI2) or other vasoactive agents.