title: Smooth muscle dilatation in the human uterine artery induced by substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide: relation to endothelium-derived relaxing substances.
abstract: The relaxatory influences of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were investigated in human uterine arteries precontracted by noradrenaline in vitro. SP, VIP, CGRP and ANP all relaxed isolated uterine arteries with intact endothelium. When tested on vessels devoid of their endothelium VIP and SP had no effect on smooth muscular tone, while ANP and CGRP still induced unchanged vasodilatation. These results suggest an involvement of an endothelium-derived relaxing substance in the mechanisms by which VIP and SP induce relaxation of the isolated human uterine artery. On the other hand, ANP and CGRP seem to act on the same vessel preparation in vitro independently of the vascular endothelium. Both addition of noradrenaline and exchange of sodium against potassium in the organ chambers resulted in smooth muscle contraction irrespective of the integrity of the endothelium.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D012964:Sodium; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D011188:Potassium; D009638:Norepinephrine