The extracorporeal perfusion of the swine uterus as an experimental model: The effect of tocolytic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of the effect of tocolytic drugs on isolated swine uterus preparations.


METHODS
Forty swine uteri were perfused with the aim to preserve a viable organ, which should be responsive to oxytocic hormones and tocolytic pharmaca. An intrauterine catheter recorded the pressure changes. After initiation of rhythmical uterine contractions we administered known tocolytic drugs (fenoterol, ritodrine, terbutaline, propofol, acetylsalicylic acid, alcohol, atosiban, verapamil, and glyceryl trinitrate) in various concentrations.


RESULTS
Perfusate pH and lactate, partial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, and oxygen saturation in the perfusate showed good preservation of the organ for up to 8h. All substances showed a tocolytic effect on the swine uterus. The effect varied substantially with regard to the length of the contraction free intervals, which was our main effect parameter. Fenoterol, acetylsalicylic acid, and alcohol showed the most and glyceryl trinitrate the least powerful effect.


CONCLUSIONS
A direct comparison of various tocolytic substances in the same experimental model showed the best effect for fenoterol. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that the swine uterus perfusion system is a suitable model to study the influence of various conditions like the administration of drugs or the induction of oxidative stress on the uterus function.
Maltaris
Theodoros
T
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitätsstr. 21/23, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Dragonas
Charalampos
C
Hoffmann
Inge
I
Mueller
Andreas
A
Schild
Ralf L
RL
Schmidt
Werner
W
Beckmann
Matthias W
MW
Dittrich
Ralf
R
D000818:Animals; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D005280:Fenoterol; D015232:Dinoprostone