Immunohistochemical characteristics of neurones innervating the porcine uterus located in paracervical ganglia were studied with a combination of retrograde fluorescent tracing and immunofluorescence. Retrograde fluorescent tracer Fast Blue (FB) was injected into the uterine horn and uterine cervix. The presence of biologically active substances, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY),...

Pain arising from the first stage of labour is carried through afferents which course through the paracervical plexus and hypogastric nerve, co-mingle with sympathetic efferents along the pararvertebral sympathetic chain and enter the spinal cord at the T10 to L1 dermatomes. Near the end of the first stage and during the remaining phases of labour there is also input from somatic efferents in t...

Legalisation of abortion in South Africa immediately decreased morbidity but the magnitude was not substantial, possibly because morbidity was already lower than in many countries. The lack of change may reflect additional covert induced abortion activity, perhaps through the use of misoprostol in unregistered settings. There has been a trend towards lower technology. While more manual vacuum a...

Too OFTEN, before she even meets the anaesthetist, the woman in labour has already experienced the greatest part of the pain associated with having her baby. She then receives an epidural block, a saddle block, or other form of anaesthetic for the final half hour or so of labour. The first stage is often a trying, unpleasant, and painful episode. In the past this has been dealt with relatively ...