EFFECT OF TRICHOSANTHIN ON PROGESTERONE,PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR AND PROSTAGLANDIN F_(2α) LEVEL OF PREGNANT RAT UTERI

Trichosanthin given im to pregnant rats decreased the plasma progesterone concentration and the level of progesterone and cytosol progesterone receptor in uteri and increased the content of uterine PGF_2α. When the dose response in smooth muscle of pregnant rat uteri was studied after im injection of trichosanthin, the response to 15-Me-PGF_2α and oxytocin was enhanced significantly.Based upon the above experiments it is suggested that: (1) As a result of the deleterious action of trichosanthin on placenta, the PGF_2α content of the uteine tissue was increased. (2) The increase of uterine content of PGF_2α and response to 15-Me-PGF_2α and oxytocin are related to the decrease of plasma progesterone concentration and the level of uterine progesterone and cytosol progesterone receptor.