THE REGULATORY INFLUENCE OF PROSTAGLANDINS ON PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS IN THE HUMAN NON PREGNANT CERVIX

Cervical connective tissue was obtained from nonpregnant fertile women undergoing hysterectomy. Tissue specimens were mechanically chopped into 1 mm thick slices which were preincubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing PG[prostaglandin]E2 or PGF2.alpha. (300 ng/ml). After 60 min the slices were transferred into fresh buffer with the corresponding PG-concentration and 3H-labeled Pro or hydroxyproline. Following incubation (60 min) the protein bound radioactivity was determined and related either to the dry weight or to the protein content of each slice. The 2 methods used did not show any qualitative differences. The experiments showed that PG had a marked effect on protein synthesis in the cervical tissue. During the follicular phase incubation with both types of PG was followed by a decreased incorporation indicating decreased net synthesis of collagen while there was an increased incorporation and hence increased synthesis in the luteal phase. There was no significant influence on the distribution of the model amino acid, 14C-aminoisobutyric, acid in the presence of PG neither in the follicular nor in the luteal phase. The present data point to an acute effect of PGE2 and PGF2.alpha. on cervical collagen metabolism and indicate furthermore that the process is steroid hormone dependent. These substances may exert their effect by modulating the incorporation of amino acids into protein.