[Sex hormone receptors, prostaglandins and cAMP, in functional activity of the uterus].

The levels of progesterone and estrogen receptors, cAMP and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha were studied in the decidua of pregnant women, which was obtained during surgical, spontaneous or prostaglandin-induced abortion or by pregnancy termination with vacuum aspiration after RU-486 treatment (before the onset of abortion). Our data have allowed the authors to suggest that (i) for the maintenance of normal activity of decidua during pregnancy, the following points are considerably important: the constant ratio of progesterone and estrogen receptors in favor of progesterone receptors, low PG levels and high cAMP levels; (ii) both spontaneous and induced abortion are characterized by decreases in the levels of progesterone receptor (which in turn changes the ratio of progesterone and estrogen receptors in favor of the latter), by increased PG levels and decreasing cAMP concentrations.