STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF THE ONSET OF DELIVERY

Abstract

Still the mechanism of labor is unknown, though Reynolds, Hoff-Bayer and Csapo have some opinions.From the fact that tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is specific to pregnancy, and that Serotonin, a metabolite of tryptophan, has contracting effect to the uterus, it is considered that certain relationship exists between the mechanism of labor and tryptophan. metabolism.The author found that tyrptophan metabolism has some relationship with the mechanism of labor from the results that urinary output of 5-Hydroxyindols has its peak during delivery, and that on paper-chromatogram some indols spots appears during pregnancy and delivery.The author has studied uterine contraction by the drugs concerning tyrptophan-serotonin metabolism. Uterine contraction is intensified by MAO inhibitor, vitamin B6 and Reserpine, and inhibited by decarboxylase inhibitor and desoxypyridoxin.The author also gets favorable results clinically in using vitamin B6 during labor and is trying to find out how tryptophan-serotonin metabolism effects the mechanism of labor.