The urea content of the placenta

The urea content of the placenta

IVY, ET AL., COXTRACTIONS OF MO&-KEY CTERrS AT TERM 399 expect on the basis of the homologies outlined above as well as the embryologic deve...

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IVY,

ET

AL.,

COXTRACTIONS

OF

MO&-KEY

CTERrS

AT

TERM

399

expect on the basis of the homologies outlined above as well as the embryologic development of the parts of uterus and tubes. The placental site is less invollwi by contractions than the remainder of the ut,erus. 4. The homologies referred to suggest that the lower segment of the primate uterus represents the corpus of bicornuate uteri; the upper segment, the fused horns, the contract,ion ring, the cornual sphinct,ers. This view is supported on both anatomic and physiologic grounds. 5. The musculature of the cervix is chiefly concentrat~ed into a powerful sphincter at the internal OS, which may be felt by the examining finger from the lumen side and may be seen externally (see Figs. 2 and 3). This sphincter is of the greatest obstetric importance, at least in the monkey. IJpon delivery the uterus cont,racts maximally, forming the t’ypical picture seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Contraction is greatest in the region of the placental sit,es, which further reduces the dangers of hemorrhage. 6. The pregnant. and the parturirnt uterus are relatively nonirritable to nerve stimulation. ‘7. Stimulation of the mammary nipples causes a slight increase in the rate of the contractions. 8. Pituitrin (pitocin), in the dosage employed, causes spastic contractions over the entire uterus, followed by intermittent contractions without full relaxation. The contraction wave of normal sequence does not occur, hence the contractions after pitocin are little calculated to expel t,he fetus. 9. Adrenalin causes a primary contraction followed by temporary quiescence. It also abolishes the contraction due to pituitrin or ergotamine. the latter of which had only a mild action in the closes employecl.

Wehefritz 339:

and Gierhake: 479,

The Urea Content

of the Placenta.

Arch. f. GynHk.

1930.

The authors find from their investigations that there is a temporary production of urea in the placenta and further that the placental urea content is usually high (11.7) under even the most normal conditions. This urea content is markedly increased in the more sercre forms of toxemias of pregnancy. As may be surmised, the highest values are found in patients suffering from eclampsia. Here the urea content is increased to 50 mg. The authors therefore raise the question of placental poisoning due to such a heavy concentration of urea and discuss the effects of such a placental poisoning on both mother and fetus. RALPH A. REIS.