Endotoxin, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha do not acutely stimulate isolated murine myometrial contractile activity.
OBJECTIVE
Endotoxin, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha have been implicated in the pathogenesis of preterm labor, but their acute effect on myometrial contractile activity is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine their effect on isolated pregnant murine myometrial contractile activity.


METHODS
Isometric contractions were measured in myometrium isolated from pregnancy day 18 Swiss-Webster mice. Frequency, duration, amplitude, and integrated area were compared before and after the addition of endotoxin (10(3) and 10(4) ng/ml) (n = 6), interleukin-1 beta (10 and 10 ng/ml) (n = 6), interleukin-6 (1 and 10 ng/ml) (n = 6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (1 and 10 ng/ml) (n = 6). Results were analyzed with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.


RESULTS
The addition of endotoxin, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha did not result in a change in the contractile activity of isolated pregnant murine myometrium compared with control.


CONCLUSIONS
Endotoxin, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha do not acutely increase isolated murine myometrial contractile activity.
Oshiro
B T
BT
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
Monga
M
M
Eriksen
N L
NL
Graham
J M
JM
Weisbrodt
N W
NW
Blanco
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha