The theory of human decidualized endometrium to produce prolactin (PRL) throughout gestation has led to the implication that such production is related to the source of amniotic fluid PRL (afPRL). This study confirms that fetal membranes, amnion and amniochorion with or without adherent decidua, are unable to transfer significant quantities of exogenously administered PRL from the maternal to fetal compartments in vitro. Incubation of amniochorion with decidua adherent to chorion results in a significant increase in the amount of endogenous PRL appearing on the fetal side of the membrane concomitant with a rise in decidual PRL on the maternal side. The results suggest that transport of decidual PRL to amniotic fluid is predicated on retention of the cellular adhesion between maternal decidua and fetal chorion as exists in vivo. Disruption of decidual contact with fetal membrane results in failure of PRL transport to the fetal side despite a steady accumulation of PRL on the maternal side. We conclude that human fetal membranes are highly permeable to decidual PRL in vivo, and that decidua probably represents the major source of afPRL.
These data suggest that phasic PRL secretion is associated with cervical dilatation and that after transition to the second stage of labor, uterine contraction frequency may be associated with the increase in PRL levels.
I'he ;inticoagulant action of the heparin antagonist Polybreile has been studied in vitro. Eblybrene was fouild to interfere with the formation of intrinsic blood thrombc~plastin. On exarrlination of the steps in the forrnation of throinboplastin, there was no iilterferer~ce with the production of the intermediate, product I. As this intermediate product is forrned by the interaction of aluminium hydroxide ;idsorbed plasma, serurn, and calcium, Polybrene does not appear to interfere with the interaction of factors VIII, IX, XI, or X11. I t was noted, however, that the further reactions of product 1 with phospholipid were inhibited by this agerat. It is siaggested that the anticc~agulant action of E'olybrene is exerted a t this point ,~n d is dependent on its capacity to neutralize the surface charge of the phosphoiipid particles. (b) Thrombin (bovine 1000 N.I.N. unitsjml; Parke-Davis & Co.) diluted in ,\iP//8O CaC'12. (c) I'olybrenc (hexadinlcthrine broinide 1%; Abbott Laboratories) dilutecf in 0.97; saline. This poIylner was thought t o have a nlolec~~lr-tr weight of about 6000, although recently this has been revised t o approxi~nately %SOU (5). (d) ('itrated hunran plasma prepared from blood collected in 3.80 sodium citrate (one part t o nine parts of blood). (e) Brain throrllboplastin, an acetone extraction of human brain; cephalin, a chloroform extraction of brain thromboplastin; and veronal bufkr (pll 7.45). A411 were prepared as described by Biggs and Riacfarlane (ti). C:~nadian J o i~r~a ! of I'hysiology and Pharmacology. Volume 43 (1965) Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by University of Tennessee on 12/27/14For personal use only.
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