scholarly journals Hormones and Calcium: Mechanisms Controlling Uterine Smooth Muscle Contractile Activity

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara M. Sanborn
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Contractile

scholarly journals Quercetin affects uterine smooth muscle contractile activity in gilts

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0252438
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Zygmuntowicz ◽  
Włodzimierz Markiewicz ◽  
Tomasz Grabowski ◽  
Artur Burmańczuk ◽  
Alla Vyniarska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cyclic Group ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Circular Layer ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Immature Group

Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid occurring in leaves, stems, flowers and fruits of many plants. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used as a natural therapeutic agent with a broad spectrum of activities (antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial and antiviral). Moreover, quercetin affects function of the reproductive tract, however the knowledge of this activity is still fragmentary. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of quercetin on the contractile activity of the porcine myometrium collected from immature (n = 6), cyclic (n = 6) and early pregnant (n = 6) gilts. Strips of the myometrium (comprising longitudinal and circular layer) were resected from the middle part of the uterine horns and the isometric contractions were recorded. After 60–90 min of preincubation, the strips were stimulated with quercetin in increasing (10−13–10−1 M) concentrations and the changes in the tension amplitude and frequency of contractions were measured. Quercetin decreased (P<0.01–0.001) the amplitude of contractions at concentrations 10−11–10−1 M and 10−10–10−1 M in cyclic and early pregnant groups, respectively. The frequency of contractions decreased in all groups but was the highest (at concentrations 10−11–10−1 M; P<0.05–0.001) in the cyclic group and the lowest (at concentrations 10−5–10−1 M; P<0.01) in the immature group. The tension decreased only in the cyclic group after quercetin administration in high concentrations (10−6–10−1 M; P<0.05–0.01). The results indicate that quercetin causes relaxation of the porcine uterine smooth muscle but this activity is strongly related to the physiological status of the gilts.

Gap junctions and direct intercellular communication between rat uterine smooth muscle cells

1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. C20-C31 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Cole ◽  
R. E. Garfield ◽  
J. S. Kirkaldy
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Intercellular Communication ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
Longitudinal Distribution ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Apparent Diffusion

We have tested the hypothesis that an increase in direct intercellular communication accompanies the development of gap junctions (GJs) between rat uterine smooth muscle cells at parturition. Intercellular communication in these tissues was studied by exposing one portion of small strips of myometrium to 2-[3H]deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and determining the longitudinal distribution of tracer after a 5-h period of diffusion. The distribution of 2-DG was greater in parturient compared with ante- and postpartum tissues. Similarly, the apparent diffusion coefficient of 2-DG was almost 10-fold greater in delivering tissues (1.86 X 10(-6) cm2/s) than before (0.199 X 10(-6) cm2/s) or after (0.296 X 10(-6) cm2/s) parturition. Control experiments indicated that the redistribution of 2-DG was dependent on the presence of GJs and was the result of intracellular and direct cell-to-cell diffusion. The appearance of GJs is the myometrium at term facilitates direct intercellular communication between uterine smooth muscle cells during labor. This improved communication may be responsible for synchronizing and coordinating electrical, metabolic, and contractile activity in the uterine wall and, hence, the effective expulsion of fetuses.

Calcium-activated K+ channels as modulators of human myometrial contractile activity

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (4) ◽  
pp. C976-C985 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Anwer ◽  
C. Oberti ◽  
G. J. Perez ◽  
N. Perez-Reyes ◽  
J. K. McDougall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Inositol Phosphate ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Myometrial Cell ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Kca Channels ◽  
Half Maximal Effective Concentration ◽  
Extracellular Side

The role of Ca(2+)-activated potassium (KCa) channels in the regulation of membrane potential, intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and contraction was investigated in uterine smooth muscle and myometrial cells. In an immortalized human myometrial cell line, oxytocin increased [Ca2+]i and [3H]inositol phosphate formation. Relaxin attenuated the oxytocin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In cell-attached patches, membrane depolarization activated a large-conductance KCa channel (179 +/- 4 pS). Iberiotoxin (IbTX), a potent blocker of "maxi" KCa channels (A. Galvez, G. Gimenez-Gallego, J. P. Reuben, L. Roy-Contanciin, P. Feigenbaum, G. J. Kaczorowski, and M. L. Garcia. J. Biol. Chem. 265: 11083-11090, 1990) produced long closed events (approximately 6 min) in these channels. In agreement with this blockage, IbTX depolarized the cells by 9.8 +/- 2.8 mV and caused a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i with a half-maximal effective concentration of 0.79 nM. IbTX also caused phasic contractions in human myometrial strips and increased both the frequency and force of spontaneous contractions in estrogen-primed rat myometrial strips. Moreover, myometrial contractility was also affected by 1 mM tetraethylammonium, a concentration that blocks uterine smooth muscle KCa channels when applied to the extracellular side (G. J. Perez, L. Toro, S. D. Erulkar, and E. Stefani. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 168: 652-660, 1993). These results strongly suggest that the large conductance KCa channels may actively participate in the control of human myometrial cell membrane potential and [Ca2+].

Blomhotin: a novel peptide with smooth muscle contractile activity identified in the venom of Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii

Toxicon ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1761-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Yanoshita ◽  
A. Kasuga ◽  
S. Inoue ◽  
K. Ikeda ◽  
Y. Samejima
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Muscle Contractile

Evidence for physiological regulation of myometrial gap junction permeability

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (3) ◽  
pp. C411-C420 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Cole ◽  
R. E. Garfield
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Intercellular Communication ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Dibutyryl Camp ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Apparent Diffusion

We have investigated whether direct intercellular communication between uterine smooth muscle cells of delivering rats is influenced by intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate concentration ([cAMPi]) and agents relevant to the hormonal control of pregnancy and parturition. The rate of diffusion of phosphorylated 2-[3H]deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in strips of longitudinal myometrium from rats in labor, indicated by the apparent diffusion coefficient for this molecule, was observed to be significantly reduced in tissues with elevated [cAMPi] (after treatment with dibutyryl cAMP, 8-bromo cAMP, forskolin, and theophylline) in the absence of any change in the area of gap junctions (GJs). Similarly, several agonists that elevate [cAMPi] in this tissue (e.g., isoproterenol, relaxin, carbacyclin, prostaglandin E2) also reduced 2-DG diffusion. These data suggest that the permeability of GJs in uterine smooth muscle may be regulated by [cAMPi] and physiologically relevant agonists. Control of GJ permeability may be important for the physiological regulation of intercellular communication and the extent of synchronous contractile activity in the uterine wall during pregnancy and parturition.

Cervical smooth muscle contractile activity after treatment with mifepristone and progesterone

Contraception ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Bokström ◽  
Anders Norström ◽  
Arne R̊destad
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Muscle Contractile
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