thromboxane-b2 and Infertility

To test for differences in the amount and activity of peritoneal macrophages present in the peritoneal fluid of women with, and without endometriosis using prostaglandin release by macrophages in culture as a marker.. Women of reproductive age undergoing laparoscopy for infertility or chronic pelvic pain with postoperative diagnosis of endometriosis and women undergoing laparoscopy for sterilization.. Peritoneal fluid was aspirated during laparascopy, volume was recorded, macrophages were isolated via a Ficoll Paque gradient and kept in primary culture. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha release of the cells were measured before and after stimulation with zymosan.. Women with endometriosis had significantly more peritoneal macrophages than controls. Peritoneal macrophages of women with endometriosis released significantly more PGE2 than those of the control group: 8.4 +/- 2.0 versus 1.4 +/- 0.4 ng/ml/10(6) cells (mean +/- SEM, p = 0.0005) and PGF2 alpha: 10 +/- 4.3 (endometriosis) versus 1.8 +/- 0.4 (control) ng/ml/10(6) cells (mean +/- SEM, p = 0.045).. There is a significant increase in the amount of prostaglandins released by peritoneal macrophages from women with endometriosis. These prostaglandins might alter uterine and tubal contractility, thereby affecting fertility.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Ascitic Fluid; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Endometriosis; Extracellular Space; Female; Humans; Infertility; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Thromboxane B2

To study peritoneal fluid (PF) prostaglandin (PG) in infertile women, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (a breakdown product of prostacyclin) and thromboxane B2 (T X B2) (a metabolite of T X A2) were assayed with radio-immunoassays from PF samples collected at laparascopy from patients with endometriosis (n = 29), unexplained infertility (n = 13) and from women with normal pelvic organs (n = 25). The concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and T X B2 in PF were increased (p less than 0.05) in endometriosis and unexplained infertility, as compared with the corresponding levels in the controls. In patients with endometriosis, both 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and T X B2 increases were related to the severity of the disease. There was no relationship between 6-keto-PGF1 alpha/T X B2 in PF, and day of menstrual cycle. It is suggested that endometriotic tissue and peritoneal macrophages may contribute to these prostanoids in PF. The smooth muscle activities of PF prostacyclin and T X A2 may be involved in infertility by interfering with tubal function.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Adult; Ascitic Fluid; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Infertility; Male; Thromboxane B2; Thromboxanes