6-ketoprostaglandin-f1-alpha and Dysmenorrhea

To observe the therapeutic effect of ear-electroacupuncture (Ear-EA) on dysmenorrhea in patients with endometriosis and to explore its underlying mechanism.. A total of 80 endometriosis patients were randomly and equally divided into ear-EA group and body-EA group. EA (50 Hz, 0.5-0.8 mA) was applied to auricular points (Uterus, Subcortex, Shenmen, Endocrine, etc.) and body acupoints [Tianshu (ST 25), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Uterus (EX-CA 1), etc.] respectively for 30 min, once every other day for 3 months. Dysmenorrhea severity score (DSS) was assessed and plasma prostaglandin (PGE2) and 6-Keto-PGF1alpha levels detected by radioimmunoassay.. Compared with pre-treatment, DSS lowered significantly during the 1st and 2nd menstrual cycle in body-EA group, and during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation in ear-EA group; and the DSS of ear-EA group during the 3rd menstruation was evidently lower than that of body-EA group (P < 0.05). During the 3rd menstrual onset after the treatment, plasma PGE2 contents in both groups decreased obviously (P < 0.01), and plasma 6-Keto-PGF1alpha, levels increased considerably in comparison with pre-treatment (P < 0.01). Comparison between two groups during the 3rd menstruation showed that plasma PGE2 level of ear-EA group was markedly lower than that of body-EA group, and 6-Keto-PGF1alpha, level of ear-EA group was significantly higher than that of body-EA group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between two groups in clinical therapeutic effect (P > 0.05).. Both ear-EA and body-EA can effectively relieve endometriosis-induced dysmenorrhea, and the former is superior to the later in reducing pain severity, which may be closely related to their effects in reducing plasma PGE2 and raising 6-Keto-PGF1alpha level.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture, Ear; Adult; Dysmenorrhea; Electroacupuncture; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Prostaglandins

Eleven women with primary dysmenorrhea completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over study comparing 200 and 400mg suprofen. Menstrual fluid volume did not change. Mean+/-S.E.M. menstrual fluid PGF2a was significantly suppressed from 18.9+/-1.9 microg (placebo) to 10.9+/-1.7 and 9.3+/-2.1 microg with 200 and 400 mg suprofen, respectively (p=<0.005). PGE2 dropped from 7.8+/-0.9 to 4.6+/-0.8 and 4.6+/-1.1 microg (p=<0.05) and TxB2 from 17.5+/-4.3 to 7.5+/-2.9 and 3.6+/-1.3 microg (p=<0.01), respectively. 6-Keto PGF1a was significantly suppressed (2.7+/-0.4 to 1.9+/-0.5 microg, p=<0.025) with only 400 mg suprofen. Six subjects rated placebo poor and five fair to very good. In contrast, nine rated suprofen excellent to fair while two rated poor. Thus, suprofen was clinically effective but the differential suppression of prostanoids favors 200mg which spares 6-keto PGF1a.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Body Fluids; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Prostaglandins; Suprofen; Thromboxane B2

The relationship between prostaglandins (PGs) production and the mechanism of dysmenorrhea in endometriosis is poorly understood. Consequently, we investigated the role of PGs in dysmenorrhea of endometriosis. Slices of normal endometrium, normal myometrium, adenomyosis, leiomyoma, normal ovary and affected ovary were incubated. 6-keto PGF1 alpha (a metabolite of PGI2), TXB2 (a metabolite of TXA2), PGF2 alpha and PGE2 concentrations of the incubation medium were measured by RIA. The results are as follows; 1) PGs production in endometriosis was significantly higher than that of other tissues, especially 6-keto PGF1 alpha, which was a dominant product in adenomyosis. 2) There were significant differences in PGs production between severe dysmenorrhea and non dysmenorrhea, especially tissue of adenomyosis with severe dysmenorrhea which produces large amounts of 6-keto PGF1 alpha. 3) There seems to be interaction between normal endometrium and normal myometrium with regard to 6-keto PGF1 alpha production. We concluded that increased PGI2 in the tissue of endometriosis seems to induce hyperalgesia during menstruation.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Epoprostenol; Female; Humans; Hyperalgesia; Myometrium; Ovarian Diseases; Ovary; Prostaglandins; Thromboxane B2

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on plasma thromboxane B2(TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha) levels in dysmenorrhea rats in order to investigate its mechanism underlying relief of primary dysmenorrhea and specificity of acupoint efficacy.. Female SD rats with diestrus were randomly divided into saline control (control), model, EA Sanyinjiao (SP 6), EA Xuehai (SP 10), EA Xuanzhong (GB 39) and EA non-acupoint (NAP) groups, with 10 rats in each. Dysmenorrhea model was established by subcutaneous injection of Estradiol Benzoate (0.5 mg/rat on the 1st and 10th day, and 0.2 mg/rat from the 2nd to the 9th day) and intraperitoneal injection of Oxytocin (0.2 mL/rat, 1 h after last injection of Estradiol Benzoate on the 10th day). EA was applied to bilateral SP 6, SP 10, GB 39, and non-acupoint (the mid-point between the Gallbladder and Stomach meridian at the GB 39 level) for 20 min. The latency and score of writhing were recorded for 20 min. Plasma TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha contents were detected by radioimmunoassay.. Compared with the control group, the latency of writhing in the model group was shortened considerably (P < 0.01), and the writhing score was increased significantly (P < 0.01). In comparison with the model group, the writhing latency was increased significantly only in the EA-SP 6 group (P < 0.05), and the writhing scores in the EA-SP 6, EA-SP 10, EA-GB 39 and EA-NAP groups were reduced remarkably (P < 0.01). Plasma TXB2 content and the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha. were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared to the model group, plasma TXB2 levels and the ratios of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha. in the EA-SP 6, EA-SP 10, EA-GB 39 and EA-NAP groups were downregulated markedly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while plasma 6-keto-PGF1alpha was upregulated strikingly only in the EA-SP 6 group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the EA-SP 6, EA-SP 10, EA-GB 39 and EA-NAP groups in the writhing latency and writhing score, plasma TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha, levels (P > 0.05).. EA can relieve pain reaction in dysmenorrhea rats, which may be closely associated with its effects in downregulating plasma TXB2, upregulating plasma 6-keto-PGF1alpha, content, and balancing plasma TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha. The effect of EA of SP 6 is relatively better.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Acupuncture Analgesia; Acupuncture Points; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Dysmenorrhea; Electroacupuncture; Female; Humans; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thromboxane B2

The role of prostaglandins (PGs) in dysmenorrhea of endometriosis is poorly understood. The relationship between dysmenorrheic severity and prostaglandin production was investigated in endometriosis. Slices of normal myometrium, adenomyosis, normal ovary and endometrial cyst were incubated. 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha (a metabolite of PGI2), TXB2 (a metabolite of TXA2), PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 concentrations of the incubation medium were measured by RIA. The results showed that 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production in adenomyosis and endometrial cyst were significantly higher than those in normal myometrium and ovary. A direct relationship between the degree of dysmenorrheic severity and PGs production in tissue in endometriosis was observed.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Ovary; Prostaglandins; Thromboxane B2; Uterus

Ten adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) were treated with the oral contraceptive (OC) Lyndiol 2.5 mg (R) for one cycle. The levels of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and the metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2: 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 were tested by a radioimmunoassay method during the 1st and 23rd day of the pre-treatment cycle (PrTC), the 23rd day of treatment (TC) and the 1st day of the post-treatment cycle (PoTC). The ratios PGF2 alpha/PGE2 and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha were also tested and compared during the above-mentioned days. Analytical comparison was made, for each Prostaglandin (PG) separately, between the 1st day of the PrTC and PoTC as well as the 23rd day of the PrTC and TC, respectively. All PG levels during TC and PoTC were found significantly lower, compared to those of the PrTC respectively. With regard to the ratios mentioned above, no statistically significant differences were found on the same days and cycles as previously stated. The reduction of the PG levels in PD patients after treatment with oral contraceptives, together with an improvement of the clinical findings of the disease, support the theory that oral contraceptives can be used for the treatment of PD cases, especially for those adolescents who also desire a contraceptive method.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adolescent; Adult; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Drug Combinations; Dysmenorrhea; Epoprostenol; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Humans; Lynestrenol; Mestranol; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins; Thromboxane B2

Menstrual fluid was collected in a contraceptive diaphragm from 16 women with primary dysmenorrhoea and 12 matched control subjects without dysmenorrhoea. Prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), E2 (PGE2) and 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-oxo-PGF1 alpha) were extracted and measured using gas-chromatography: mass spectrometry (GC:MS). The concentrations of both PGF2 alpha and PGE2 were higher on days 1 and 2 in the dysmenorrhoea group than in the control group and the concentration of PGF2 alpha was higher on day 1 than on day 2 in the dysmenorrhoea group. The concentrations of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2) were low in both groups. These results confirm suggestions that PGF2 alpha is important in the aetiology of dysmenorrhoea and also indicate that PGE2 may be involved.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Body Fluids; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Menstruation; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F