title: Alpha-adrenergic receptors in human myometrium: changes during pregnancy.
abstract: Myometrial biopsies from 80 women, delivered by cesarean section in 26-42 completed weeks of pregnancy, were analyzed using radiolabeled alpha 1-antagonist [3H]-prazosin and alpha 2-antagonist [3H]-rauwolscine. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test (two-tailed), where p < 0.05 was considered significant. The number of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors did not vary (mean value weeks 37-39 = 17.2 +/- 1.3 fmol/mg protein), while the dissociation constant (Kd) for alpha 2-receptors tended to increase with increasing gestational age, implying reduced affinity near term (p < 0.05, mean values 3.4 +/- 0.2 nM). alpha 1-Receptors, however, increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the pregnancy weeks 37-39 (mean value 29.2 +/- 2.9 fmol/mg prot) while Kd was unaltered. Increased number of alpha 1-receptors, along with a decreased affinity of alpha 2-receptors, could, in combination with other factors, play a role in the initiation of labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Dahle
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rydén
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D015016:Yohimbine; D011224:Prazosin