title: Effects of progesterone on motility and prostaglandin levels in the distal guinea pig colon.
abstract: Progesterone (P4) inhibits the gastrointestinal muscle contraction by downregulating Galpha(q/11) proteins that mediate contraction, by upregulating Galpha(s) proteins that mediate relaxation, and by altering the pattern of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and prostaglandins. We aimed to examine whether P4 treatment of guinea pigs in vivo affects basal colon motility [basal motility index (MI)] by altering the levels and actions of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2). Guinea pigs were treated with intramuscular (IM) P4 for 4 days. The BASAL MI, the PGF(2alpha)-induced contraction, and PGE(2)-induced inhibition of contraction were examined in muscle strips and cells. The levels of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Treatment with P4 reduced the basal MI, the levels of PGF(2alpha), and PGF(2alpha)-induced contraction. P4 increased PGE(2) levels, and PGE(2) induced relaxation. Pretreatment with IM RU-486 (10 mg/kg per day), a P4 receptor antagonist, 1 h before P4 blocked the actions of P4. The PGF(2alpha) antagonist Al-1180 abolished basal MI and PGF(2alpha)-induced contraction. N-ethylmaleimide, which blocks unoccupied membrane receptors, blocked Ach and VIP actions but had no effect on PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2) effects. A COX-1 inhibitor decreased and a COX-2 inhibitor increased PGF(2alpha) levels; GTPgammaS increased and GDPbetaS decreased the levels of PGF(2alpha). Galpha(q/11) protein antibodies (Abs) reduced PGF(2alpha) levels, and Galpha(i3) Abs blocked its motor actions. Galphas Abs increased PGF(2alpha) but decreased PGE(2) levels. We concluded that P4 decreases basal MI by reducing PGF(2alpha) levels caused by downregulation of Galpha(q/11) and that PGF(2alpha)-induced contraction was blocked by downregulating Galpha(i3). P4 also decreased the basal MI by increasing PGE(2) levels, and PGE(2) induced relaxation by upregulating Galpha(s) proteins.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Zuo Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biancani
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behar
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; C034671:prostaglandin F2alpha receptor; D015735:Mifepristone; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D011374:Progesterone; D015237:Dinoprost; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D015232:Dinoprostone; D000109:Acetylcholine; D005033:Ethylmaleimide