title: Inhibitory effects of methotrexate on spontaneous motility and Cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells in rabbit oviduct.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the adverse biomechanical effects of methotrexate (MTX) on spontaneous tubal motility and on a widely distributed Cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells (t-ICC) in rabbits. In our previous study, MTX was confirmed to cause acute endosalpingitis, and ultrastructural and steroid receptor damage in rat's endosalpinx in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in spontaneous tubal contractions and cellular distribution of t-ICC in isthmus were evaluated in response to MTX.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical school research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty nonpregnant female New Zealand albino rabbits in estrus stage were divided equally into four groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits received IM MTX (1, 5, 10 mg/kg body weight) and controls received physiological saline.
  
  
  METHODS
  On day 7, in vitro motility studies measuring spontaneous tubal contractions were performed, and cellular distribution of t-ICC was determined by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methotrexate produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous isthmus contractions (frequency in 5, 10 mg/kg groups, and amplitude in 1, 5, 10 mg/kg MTX groups). It decreased significantly compared with the control group. Meanwhile, MTX at 5, 10 mg/kg decreased the population of c-kit immunoreactive t-ICC significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased t-ICC may contribute to the diminished tubal smooth muscle contractility caused by MTX as observed. Tubal interstitial cells might be new potential targets for a variety of dysfunctional tubal motility diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. laoyangxiao@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Fei-Yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010057:Oviducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D008727:Methotrexate