Cytotoxic activity and progesterone binding capacity of maternal lymphocytes are not influenced by gestational age and by the number of previous pregnancies.

Abstract

Cytotoxic activity and progesterone binding capacity of lymphocytes obtained from 135 pregnant women was tested. Cytotoxic activity of healthy pregnant women's lymphocytes was significantly lower (p less than 0.001), while progesterone binding capacity significantly higher (p less than 0.001), than those of lymphocytes obtained from women with threatened abortion or threatened premature labour. Neither cytotoxic activity nor progesterone binding capacity of the lymphocytes was influenced by gestational age. Furthermore, the number of previous pregnancies did not have any effect on either of the two parameters.