title: Nitric oxide synthesis in human nonpregnant myometrium and uterine myomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify whether nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in myomas differs from that in parental human myometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy for uterine myoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurement of NO synthase activity in homogenates from myoma and parental myometrium biopsies, and NO synthesis assessment in cultured smooth-muscle cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nitric oxide synthase activity in homogenates did not significantly differ between myoma and healthy myometrium. The medium taken from myoma cultures showed a significant increase in nitrite concentration compared with that taken from control myometrium cultures, but 24-hour incubation of both cell types with physiologic concentrations of 17beta-estradiol or progesterone did not significantly modify nitrite production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maximal activity of NO synthase does not differ in myoma cells and in normal myometrial cells, but basal NO synthesis seems to be enhanced by an unknown signaling pathway that is not controlled by 17beta-estradiol or progesterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrical and Gynecological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Favini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aldieri
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revelli
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massobrio
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002956:Citrulline / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009214:Myoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase