Pregnancy: Effects of hyperosmolar glucose, prostaglandin-F2{alpha} and 15-methyl-prostaglandin-F2{alpha} on human placental cells in vitro

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of certaindrugs, used for local injection therapy of ectopic pregnancy,to suppress the activities of cultured human placental cells.Placental cells from legal first trimester abortions were preparedby collagenase treatment and density gradient centrifugation.The cells were exposed to hyperosmolar glucose (500 mg/ml),15-methyl-prostaglandin-F₂ (15-m-PGF₂; 10–7 to 10–3mol/l) and prostaglandin-F₂ (PGF₂; 10–5 to 5X10–3mol/l) for 30 min on days 2–4 after seeding. The effectson the secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) andprogesterone, as well as on the protein content per culturewell, were measured. Hyperosmolar glucose was the most effectivedrug and caused a marked decrease of the protein content inthe culture wells and a reduction of progesterone secretion.Of the two prostaglandins, only 15-m-PGF₂ affected the viabilityof the cells and reduced the protein content of the wells. Theclinical effectiveness of the two groups of drugs seems to besimilar but certain in-vitro effects are different. Thus invivo they may act on different target tissues. Against thisbackground, the combination of hyperosmolar glucose and prostaglandinsmight be an interesting approach for local injection therapyfor tubal pregnancy.