Edebiri A A, Mack D S, McDonald D J, Philips J
Department of Obstetrics, Rutherglen Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1989 Apr;28(4):331-5. doi: 10.1016/0020-7292(89)90604-8.
Maternal serum samples obtained from 123 normal pregnant women between 28 and 40 weeks gestation were analysed for oxytocinase (EC 3.4.11.3) activity using s-benzyl-1-cysteine-4-nitroanilide as substrate. Oxytocinase activity was found to be stable at varying temperatures, with a mean co-efficient of variation of 5.0%. The short-term fluctuation of oxytocinase activity had a mean coefficient of variation of 3.6%. There is no suggestion of a "pulsatile" release of oxytocinae from its placental origin.