Prostaglandins in selected reproductive tissues in preterm and full-term gestations.

We investigated differences in maternal plasma and trophoblast prostaglandin metabolism associated with preterm births. Tissue prostaglandins (PGs) E2 and F2 alpha and the stable plasma PGF2 alpha metabolite, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha, were measured in preterm (< 37 weeks) and term (< or = 37 weeks) births. Amnion PGE2 in preterm (106.1 +/- 15.7 ng/g wet weight tissue; x +/- SEM; n = 37) was lower than in term (176.6 +/- 22.7 ng/g wet weight; x +/- SEM; n = 34, P < 0.02). Placenta PGE2 was lower in preterm (34.7 +/- 19.7 ng/g wet weight; x +/- SEM) than in term (103.3 +/- 28.0 ng/g wet weight; x +/- SEM, P < 0.04). Preterm PGF2 alpha was consistently lower in the amnion (106.8 +/- 17.5 ng/g wet weight) and placenta (102.5 +/- 8.7 ng/g wet weight) than in term amnion (188.2 +/- 24.8 ng/g wet weight; P < 0.01) and placenta (128.9 +/- 7.8 ng/g wet weight; P < 0.03). Chorionic PGE2 and plasma PGF2 alpha metabolite followed this trend but did not reach significance. These findings suggest qualitative and quantitative differences in maternal and trophoblast eicosanoid metabolism between term and preterm parturition.