Brief Overview About Prostaglandins & Misoprostol For Cervical Ripening

Abstract

Background: Prostaglandins (PG) are a whole family of compounds with a wide spectrum of biologic effect. The first PG effect was discovered in 1930. During artificial insemination to treat sterility in women, it was observed in a number of cases, semen that was injected into the uterine cavity was promptly expelled. However when Ringer's solution was injected , it was retained. In some cases it was noted that semen also caused contraction of human uterine muscle in vitro. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2):  PGE2 has been shown to regulate the synthesis of hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans and increases the activity of elastin, both of which induce cervical ripening by separating and dispersing collagen bundles. The application of PGE2 to the human cervix has been reported to increase collagenase activity in cervical biopsies. In addition, PGE2 modulates the inflammatory response that characterizes cervical ripening and remodeling. commonly used for mid-trimester induction of abortion. Two PGE2 analogues are commercially available and have been investigated for mid-trimester abortion: Dinoprostone (Prostin) and Meteneprost. Only Prostin is FDA approved in the United States as an abortifacient up to 28 weeks’ gestation