Prostaglandin F 2α disappearance and concentration in amniotic fluid and blood of women undergoing abortion with intra-amniotic hypertonic saline

Abstract

Intra-amniotic administration of 20 percent hypertonic saline caused a significant increase in the concentration of PGF 2α in the amniotic fluid of women undergoing second trimester abortion. The increase in PGF 2α was slow in patients with longer abortion time. Interestingly, in one case (GS), the levels of PGF 2α increased from 0.32 to 7.48 ng/ml when the induction-abortion time was 7.75 hours. However, no significant change in PGF 2α levels was observed in the peripheral venous blood during induction-abortion interval. The disappearance of (9β- 3H)-PGF 2α and its metabolites was slow in the amniotic fluid of saline administered cases as compared with the cases where saline was not given. The slow disappearance of PGF 2α and its metabolites in the saline administered amniotic fluid has been suggested to be partly due to the rapid change in amniotic fluid volume and increased synthesis/release of PGF 2α in the amniotic fluid. From the amniotic fluid, PGf 2α was diffused into the foetus where variable amounts were observed in different tissues. These observations suggested that following the administration of hypertonic saline, an increased endogenous synthesis/release of PGF 2α in the amniotic fluid was observed which may act on the uterus locally and contribute to the abortifacient properties of 20 percent hypertonic saline.