The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of chicken amniotic fluid (AF) on a cross section of rat sciatic nerves. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 275 to 300 g, were randomized into three groups treated with (1) amniotic fluid or AF (n=10), (2) normal saline or NS (n=10), and (3) sham surgery (n=10). The AF was aspirated from the amniotic cavity of incubat...

Very high concentrations of prorenin protein occur in human amniotic fluid and amnion. The source of amniotic fluid prorenin is likely the decidua, as it has the highest levels of prorenin mRNA (REN). Conversely, REN mRNA levels in amnion and chorion are very low. This study aimed to investigate whether decidual prorenin could cross the amnion and accumulate in amniotic fluid. Late gestation am...

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic indices and predictive values by bedside assessment of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in the identification of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN One hundred twenty-four women with ...

Ingestion of amniotic fluid or placenta by rats has been shown to enhance several types of opioid-mediated analgesia: that induced by morphine, footshock, vaginal/cervical stimulation, and late pregnancy. This enhancement has also been blocked by administration of opioid antagonists. The present study was designed to examine further the specificity of the enhancement effect for opioid-mediated ...

BACKGROUND Our aim was to evaluate the clinical impact of routine amniotic fluid and neonatal surface swab microbiology at Caesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS Microbiology data from 1 537 neonates delivered by Caesarean section were analysed in the light of clinical outcome. RESULTS 1 340 (87%) neonates had non-pathogenic bacteria or negative culture results from both amniotic fluid an...

We have investigated the distribution of immunoreactive endothelins (irET) in fetal fluids and expression of ET precursor genes in villous tissue during the first trimester. Samples of maternal plasma (n = 6), coelomic fluid (n = 28), amniotic fluid (n = 23) and villous tissue (n = 3) were obtained from 30 pregnancies immediately before surgical termination at 7-12 weeks gestation. irET concent...