Catecholamines and contractility of the human myometrium at term: a possible role for prostaglandins.
The contractile response of small myometrial specimens from the term pregnant human uterus was investigated using a superfusion technique. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine all had a stimulatory effect on the contractility. It was also demonstrated that this stimulatory effect was alpha-adrenoceptor mediated. If the tissue was pretreated with the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor indomethacin or the arachidonic acid analogue eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid the effect of catecholamines was significantly reduced. This suggests a specific role of prostaglandins in the mechanism of action of catecholamines on the human myometrium.
D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002395:Catecholamines; D011453:Prostaglandins; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D007213:Indomethacin; D004837:Epinephrine