Metabolism of prostaglandin F2alpha in early human placenta in vitro.

The authors were investigating the metabolism of prostaglandin F2alpha in human early placenta, in in vitro incubation experiments. They have identified both major metabolites, 15-keto-PGF2alpha and 15-keto-13,14 dehydro PGF2alpha. They have examined the change in the percentage of these, taken as a function of time. They have established that the main site of inactivating the endogenous PGF2alpha is the early human placenta. They suppose that the considerable Pg-inactiviting effect of the placenta has a part which acts as a protecting mechanism in preventing the uterotonic influence of the endogenous prostaglandins.