title: Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation.
abstract: Estrogen, a potent vasodilator, has its greatest effects in reproductive tissues, e.g., increasing uterine blood flow (UBF) 5- to 10-fold within 90 min after a bolus dose. High-conductance potassium channels and nitric oxide (NO) contribute to the uterine responses, but other factors may be involved. We examined the role of ATP-dependent (ATP-sensitive) and voltage-gated (Kv) potassium channels and new protein synthesis in ovariectomized ewes with uterine artery flow probes, infusing intraarterial inhibitors glibenclamide (GLB; KATP), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; Kv) or cycloheximide, respectively, into one uterine horn before and/or after systemic estradiol-17 beta (E2 beta, 1 microgram/kg i.v.). E2 beta alone increased UBF > 5-fold and heart rate by 10-25% (P < .01) within 90 min; mean arterial pressure (MAP) was unaffected. GLB did not alter basal hemodynamic parameters or responses to E2 beta. Basal UBF and heart rate were unaffected by 4-AP, but MAP increased by 10% and 25% at 30 and 120 min of infusion (P < .01), respectively. Although E2 beta-induced rises in UBF were unaffected in the control uterine horn, 4-AP dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses in the infused horn (R = .83, P = .003, n = 10). Cycloheximide not only dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses (R = .57, P = .01, n = 18) and increases in uterine cGMP secretion, 23.4 +/- 10.7 versus 340 +/- 60 pmol/min (P < .001), but also decreased UBF by 50% and cGMP by approximately 90% at the time of maximum UBF. Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation involve signaling pathways that include NO, smooth muscle cGMP, smooth muscle potassium channels and new protein synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA. charles.rosenfeld@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Blair E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D012756:Sheep; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens