[Tocolysis and fatty acids].

To six pregnant female rats Wistar strain the beta-mimetic tocolytic preparation (Partusisten-Boehringer) was administered by the s.c. route on the 19th, 20th and 21st day of pregnancy-0.1 mg per 250 mg body weight. The above dose corresponds to clinical practice and was divided into two parts: half the amount was administered between 8 and 9 a.m., the second half between 1 and 2 p.m. To pregnant controls (mean weight 340 g) saline was administered in an analogous way. On the 22nd day of pregnancy the females with a mean weight of 330 g were sacrificed by decapitation and concurrently with collection of mixed blood the calva was opened and on a cooled block the grey matter of the brain cortex was isolated. From the foetuses pooled blood samples (from 4-5 foetuses) and samples of the CNS were collected. From each foetus 0.5 ml blood was examined. The fatty acid spectrum was assessed by gas chromatography in Base's modification (1978). It was revealed that that administration of the tocolytic to pregnant females affected most the spectrum of unsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 series. In the initial there was a statistically significant increase of linolenic acid C 18:3 n-3 values in the serum as well as in the cerebral cortex as compared with controls. In two other acids, C 18:4 and C 20:4 on the other hand, a marked drop occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)