Antitachyphylactic effects of progesterone and oxytocin on term human myometrial contractile activity in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether progesterone causes any changes in the action of oxytocin on the contractile activity of term human myometrium in vitro.


METHODS
Myometrial biopsies from 13 term pregnant women undergoing cesarean delivery were immediately immersed in Hepes buffer or buffer containing 5 micrograms/mL progesterone. In the laboratory under a stereomicroscope, the specimens were dissected into 1 x 7.5-mm muscle strips. These were mounted into six tissue baths and superfused with Hepes buffer and buffer containing 5 micrograms/mL progesterone, 5 micrograms/mL progesterone plus 10 microU/mL oxytocin, 5 micrograms/mL progesterone plus 100 microU/mL oxytocin, 10 microU/mL oxytocin, and 100 microU/mL oxytocin. Isometric tension was recorded constantly for at least 3 hours.


RESULTS
The frequency of myometrial contractions and tonus increased by superfusion with progesterone, progesterone plus oxytocin, and oxytocin alone compared to buffer. In addition, a gradual decrease in frequency was observed after 60 minutes of contractions with oxytocin alone, whereas progesterone plus oxytocin had no such decrease. The activity area of contractions was greater with 10 microU/mL oxytocin and decreased with progesterone, progesterone plus both concentrations of oxytocin, and 100 microU/mL oxytocin alone, compared to buffer.


CONCLUSIONS
Progesterone stimulated the frequency of contractions and tonus of strips from the lower uterine segment of term human myometrium. A lasting increase in the frequency of contractions was observed with superfusion of progesterone plus oxytocin, suggesting that progesterone counteracted the reaction of tachyphylaxis to oxytocin.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
X
X
Fu
M
M
Rezapour
M
M
Löfgren
U
U
Ulmsten
T
T
Bäckström
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013618:Tachyphylaxis; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
D011374:Progesterone; D010121:Oxytocin