RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF HUMAN PLACENTAL PHOSPHOLIPASE-A2 MESSENGER-RNA IN LATE PREGNANCY

The aim of this study was to determine messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for a specific phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in human placenta during late gestation prior to the onset of labour. The relative abundance of human placental mRNA for a nonpancreatic Group II PLA2 was determined using a cDNA clone specific for this PLA2. Twenty seven placentae were collected from women undergoing elective (i.e. before the onset of labour) Caesarean section between 37 and 41 completed weeks gestation. The relative amount of human placental PLA2 mRNA did not change significantly over this period of late pregnancy (p > 0.8). Previously, we have demonstrated that placental PLA2 messenger RNA levels are increased in association with spontaneous onset labour at term in the human. The data obtained in this current study are consistent with the conclusion that the regulation of this human placental PLA2 gene is tightly controlled around the time of parturition and that its expression is increased acutely in association with labour.