PROSTAGLANDINS, INDOMETHACIN AND THE DECIDUAL CELL REACTION IN THE MOUSE UTERUS

A uterine decidual cell reaction (DCR) was induced in hormone-primed ovariectomized mice by injection of 10 μl of sesame oil or by crushing 1 uterine horn with hemostats (trauma). Either stimulation led to a rapid elevation (within 15 min) of the cAMP level in the stimulated horn. Rapid proliferation of decidual cells began 30 h after stimulation. Oil stimulation also resulted in a 6-fold increase in cGMP levels in both the stimulated and unstimulated uterine horns within 15 min. Pretreatment with indomethacin blocked the oil-induced cyclic nucleotide increases and the subsequent DCR. Pretreatment with indomethacin did not, however, completely prevent the increase in cAMP and decidualization in the uterine horns stimulated by crushing. Prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)) levels were measured following oil and trauma stimulation of the DCR. With either treatment, there was a rapid (within 5 min) 10-fold increase in PGF(2α) levels in the stimulated horn. Pretreatment with indomethacin abolished this increase.