Ectopic pregnancy: in vitro effects of prostaglandins on the oviduct and corpus luteum.

An in vitro model for evaluation of pharmacologic treatment of ectopic pregnancy (EP) was designed. In cases of EP, specimens from the tubal wall, the tubal artery, and the corpus luteum capsule were used for contractility studies. In addition, tissue slices from the corpus luteum of EP were incubated for determination of progesterone production. In vitro administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) induced a marked increase in activity of the tubal muscle and pronounced constriction of the tubal artery. PGF2 alpha also reduced the human chorionic gonadotropin-induced increase in progesterone production from the corpus luteum. PGE2 conversely, inhibited the tubal muscle activity and had a moderate constrictive effect on the tubal artery. Furthermore PGE2 increased the progesterone formation from the corpus luteum. In theory, the demonstrated in vitro effects indicate that as opposed to PGE2 compounds, PGF2 alpha compounds may be useful for pharmacologic treatment of EP.