title: The role of endogenous nitric oxide synthesis in contractility of term or preterm human myometrium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess in vitro the role of endogenous myometrial nitric oxide synthesis on human myometrial contraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Strips of myometrium were mounted in a standard organ bath for assessment of isometric contraction and the response to modulators of nitric oxide synthesis determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A teaching hospital research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing elective nonlabour caesarean section under regional anaesthesia: 54 at term and seven preterm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither addition of L-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthase, nor of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase led to any specific change in spontaneous myometrial contraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endogenous nitric oxide production does not play an important role in the control of human term of preterm nonlabouring uterine smooth muscle contractility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UMDS, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poston
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009215:Myometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000494:pharmacology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester