Thornton S, Baldwin PJ, Harris PA, Harding F, Davison JM, Baylis PH, Timmons PM, Wathes DC. The role of arginine vasopressin in human labour: functional studies, fetal production and localisation of V1a receptor mRNA.
BJOG 2002;
109:57-62. [PMID:
11843375 DOI:
10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.01132.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To investigate labour-associated changes in: 1. the myometrial contractile response to arginine vasopressin compared with oxytocin in vitro 2. fetal production of arginine vasopressin and 3. myometrial vasopressin V1a receptor mRNA.
DESIGN
The contractile response to vasopressin (compared with oxytocin) was investigated in paired myometrial strips in vitro. Blood was taken from the umbilical artery and vein at delivery and arginine vasopressin measured by radio-immunoassay. V1a receptor mRNA was determined by in situ hybridisation.
RESULTS
Myometrium was more sensitive to arginine vasopressin than oxytocin (P<0.05 for frequency, amplitude and activity integral in paired strips) after, but not before labour. There was a marked umbilical arteriovenous difference in arginine vasopressin concentration at delivery suggesting fetal production which was not influenced by labour. Myometrial vasopressin V1a receptor mRNA was not increased after the onset of labour.
CONCLUSIONS
The human uterus is extremely sensitive to arginine vasopressin in vitro. Arginine vasopressin is produced by the fetus but fetal formation is not increased during labour.
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