title: Has cervical smooth muscle any physiological role in the human?
abstract: Strips of human cervical tissue were obtained by needle biopsy and contractile activity was registered isometrically in a tissue chamber perfused by Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. The most frequently encountered pattern of contractile activity was high frequency-short duration. Prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGI2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha had an inhibitory effect on the muscular activity. Cervical muscle from pregnant women was more sensitive to PGE2 than specimens from non-pregnant women. PGF2 alpha had no apparent effect on cervical contractility in non-pregnant and early pregnant patients. In late pregnancy, however, PGF2 alpha inhibited muscle contractions. The present results point to a physiological role of the cervical muscles for the control of cervical competence during pregnancy. The inhibitory effect of PGs on the muscle activity may promote cervical dilatation and retraction.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology*; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000494:pharmacology; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D011464:Epoprostenol; D015232:Dinoprostone