title: Adrenergic inhibition of uterine contractions and oviposition in the lizard Anolis carolinensis.
abstract: Injection of arginine vasotocin (AVT), which induces oviposition in several lizard species, fails to do so in Anolis carolinensis. We tested the hypothesis that epinephrine-induced activation of beta-adrenoreceptors in the uterus inhibits AVT action on uterine smooth muscle. Pretreatment of gravid females with the beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist dichloroisoproterenol 15 min before an AVT injection resulted in uterine sensitivity to AVT and subsequent oviposition. Furthermore, in vitro tests indicated that epinephrine as well as a beta-adrenoreceptor agonist (isoproterenol) inhibit uterine tonic and rhythmic contractions that normally follow exposure to AVT. These results suggest that stress-induced secretion of epinephrine can act as a short-term inhibitor of oviposition in this species.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol; D014668:Vasotocin; D004837:Epinephrine