title: Maximal response to oxytocin of the isolated myometrium from pregnant patients with intrahepatic cholestasis.
abstract: Prematurity and fetal death are common complications in patients with cholestasis of pregnancy. Both conditions appear to be associated with abnormal patterns of uterine activity. We studied the oxytocin-induced contractile activity in uterine strips taken from patients with cholestasis of pregnancy (n = 6) and from women with normal pregnancy (n = 6). Contractile activity of the myometrium in response to oxytocin was significantly higher in patients with cholestasis of pregnancy than in normally pregnant patients, at doses of 10(-6), 10(-4), and 10(-2) M. We found that there is a greater maximal response to oxytocin in strips of myometrium from patients with cholestasis of pregnancy than from normally pregnant patients.
mesh_terms: D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin