Endothelin--a potent constrictor of small myometrial arteries of term pregnant women.
This study was performed to evaluate the in vitro effects of a new polypeptide, endothelin-1 (ET-1) on small intramyometrial vessels in comparison with the action of noradrenalin (NA). In connection with cesarean section, myometrial biopsies were obtained and small arteries (100-500 microns in diameter) were excised. Cylindrical segments of these vessels were used for registration of contractile activity after administration of ET-1 and NA. ET produced vasoconstriction and was approximately three times as powerful and 70-fold as potent as NA. It is suggested that ET may be involved in the regulation of human utero-placental blood flow.
Lindblom
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Lundberg
J M
JM
Lunell
N O
NO
Nisell
H
H
Norén
H
H
Wolff
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
D016232:Endothelins; D009638:Norepinephrine