Induction of labor and cervical maturation using mifepristone (RU 486) in the late pregnant rat. Influence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (Diclofenac)

D. Cabrol, B. Carbonne, A Bienkiewicz, Andrzej Bieńkiewicz, E Dallot, Emmanuelle Dallot, Abdellilah El Alj, A E Alj, L CEDARD, L. Cédard
Prostaglandins · 1991 · vol. 42(1) , pp. 71–79 · doi:10.1016/0090-6980(91)90095-w · PMID:1663255 · W1965820015
Lab / animal OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 2 in-corpus citations
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This study investigated the effects of mifepristone and diclofenac on cervical maturation and labor induction in late-pregnant rats.

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Abstract

The mechanism of action of RU 486 (Mifepristone), an antiprogesterone compound, on labor induction and on cervical maturation, is still not well documented. We have investigated the effect of RU 486, alone and in association with a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (Diclofenac) on the induction of preterm delivery and on concomitant changes in the distribution of cervical glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in pregnant Wistar rats: a control group (n = 18), a RU 486 treated group (n = 36), and a RU 486 and Diclofenac treated group (n = 15). The results of this study confirm the ability of this antiprogesterone treatment to induce preterm delivery in the rat. This effect was antagonized by cyclooxygenase inhibition, suggesting that the action of RU 486 on labor induction could be mediated by prostaglandins. The absence of an increase in plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in RU 486 treated animals could be explained by local uterine changes in prostaglandin concentrations. Mifepristone also induced some of the biochemical features of cervical maturation (i.e. increased hydration and hyaluronic acid concentration). This effect was not inhibited in Diclofenac treated animals suggesting that factors other than prostaglandins play a role in this phenomenon.

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MeSH descriptors

Cervix Uteri Diclofenac Dinoprostone Glycosaminoglycans Labor, Induced Leukotriene B4 Mifepristone Animals Arachidonic Acids Arachidonic Acids Cervix Uteri Diclofenac Dinoprostone Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate Female Glycosaminoglycans Leukotriene B4 Mifepristone Pregnancy Radioimmunoassay

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