Activity and expression of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in cultured chorionic trophoblast and villous trophoblast cells and in chorionic explants at term with and without spontaneous labor.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether any changes occurred at term before and with labor in the 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid level and in the 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in cultured chorionic and villous trophoblast cells and in chorionic explants. Twelve placentas (labor group [vaginal delivery], n = 6; nonlabor group [elective cesarean delivery], n = 6) were collected. Chorionic trophoblast and villous trophoblast cells and chorionic disks were obtained, cultured, and incubated with 282-nmol/L prostaglandin F(2)(alpha). Medium was collected to measure the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolite of prostaglandin F(2)(alpha), and the cells and disks were snap-frozen to quantify 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid expression by Northern blot analysis. The formation of the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolite of prostaglandin F(2)(alpha) was significantly lower in the labor group than in the nonlabor group for both sets of cultured cells and for chorionic explants. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid expression was lower in the chorionic trophoblast cells and chorionic disks of the labor group than those of the nonlabor group. However, the 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid level in the villous trophoblast cells did not differ between the labor and nonlabor groups. Prostaglandin metabolic activity in the chorion is reduced significantly at the time of labor.