title: Myometrial contractile responsiveness to oxytocin after dexamethasone suppression of circadian uterine activity in pregnant rhesus macaques during late gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine if dexamethasone alters myometrial responsiveness to oxytocin or oxytocin secretion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were conducted in rhesus macaques (n = 6), between 144 and 148 days' gestation (term 167 days). The first study was conducted at 9 AM and repeated 36 hours later at 9 PM. At 9 AM the following morning a continuous maternal dexamethasone infusion (15 micrograms/kg/hr given intravenously) was initiated, and the study was repeated at 9 PM, 60 hours later. Four doses of oxytocin (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 pg/kg/min) were administered as 1-minute pulses every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. The number of contractions per pulse (contraction/pulse ratio) was used to determine differences in myometrial responsiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before dexamethasone infusion there was a circadian rhythm in uterine activity with peak contractile events between 8 and 10 PM (p < 0.01), whereas during infusion the rhythm was ablated. At oxytocin dose 1, the 9 AM contraction/pulse ratio (0.3 +/- 0.1) was lower than that for 9 PM (0.6 +/- 0.2) and for 60 hours later (0.6 +/- 0.1) (mean +/- SE, p < 0.05). Similar results were observed at dose 2, whereas no differences in the contraction/pulse ratio were noted at dose 3. Basal plasma oxytocin concentrations were unaffected by dexamethasone treatment, whereas plasma estradiol and cortisol concentrations were reduced compared with control values (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) There is a differential sensitivity to oxytocin between morning and evening and (2) the dexamethasone-induced loss of the uterine contractile rhythm is not the result of a loss of myometrial sensitivity to oxytocin or to a suppression of plasma oxytocin concentrations.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, CA 92350.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Ducsay
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Ervin
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Kaushal
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D010121:Oxytocin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone