title: In vivo monitoring of intracellular free calcium changes during uterine activation by prostaglandin f(2alpha) and oxytocin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been well established that oxytocin (OXT) increases intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) by targeting both intracellular and extracellular stores, but the mechanisms involved in the increase through activation with prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) are still incompletely understood. This study was designed to elucidate the source(s) of increased [Ca(2+)](i) in response to PGF(2alpha) (10(-6) M) or OXT (10(-8) M) administration in the near-term rat myometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were divided into an in vitro group (n= 8), where the developed tension of uterine strips was assessed, and an in vivo group (n= 5), where a lobe of the uterus with intact innervation and circulation was loaded with the fluorescent indicator Indo-1 AM to assess [Ca(2+)](i).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGF(2alpha) and OXT induced a 30.1% and 35.9%, respectively, increase in developed tension in the potassium chloride-depolarized myometrial strips. Nifedipine reduced the PGF(2alpha) and OXT increased tension by 65.8% and 49.4%, respectively. In vivo, both PGF(2alpha) and OXT increased [Ca(2+)](i) in the potassium chloride-depolarized uterine muscle by 35.7% and 44.6%, respectively, increases similar to the rises in tension in vitro. Nifedipine reduced these effects of PGF(2alpha) and OXT by 45.3% and 39.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that in near-term myometrium the source of increased [Ca(2+)](i) after administration of PGF(2alpha), similar to OXT, is both extracellular and intracellular.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Budapest, Hungary. ruttner@elet2.sote.hu
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ruttner
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ivanics
authors.forename: Dick W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Slaaf
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reneman
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: Laszló
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ligeti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010121:Oxytocin; D015759:Ionomycin; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D015237:Dinoprost; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium