title: Altered responsiveness of small uterine arteries in women with idiopathic menorrhagia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to study vascular reactivity of small myometrial arteries in women with idiopathic menorrhagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small myometrial arteries were isolated from 6 patients with idiopathic menorrhagia and 4 controls. The contractile responses to thromboxane mimetic (U46619) and endothelin-1 were assessed before and after incubation with N(w)-nitro-L arginine methyl ester alone or in combination with indomethacin (Indo). Endothelium-dependent dilation to bradykinin and basal tension were compared before and after incubation with N(w)-nitro-L arginine methyl ester alone, or with N(w)-nitro-L arginine methyl ester in combination with indomethacin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constriction to endothelin-1 was enhanced in idiopathic menorrhagia arteries (P < .05). Idiopathic menorrhagia arteries demonstrated enhanced basal tension after incubation with N(w)-nitro-L arginine methyl ester, which was further exaggerated by indomethacin. NOS inhibition had no effect on basal tension in controls, but basal tension was enhanced after inhibition of cyclooxygenase-derived products (P < .05). Bradykinin-mediated dilation was significantly increased in idiopathic menorrhagia (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of functional alterations in small myometrial arteries could contribute to idiopathic menorrhagia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology CLINTEC, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mints
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luksha
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kublickiene
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin