Contractility of late pregnant rat myometrium is refractory to activation of soluble but not particulate guanylate cyclase

Eva Fulep, Yuri Vedernikov, George R. Saade, Robert E. Garfield

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the effects of agents activating particulate or soluble guanylate cyclases on the spontaneous contractile activity of the isolated pregnant rat uterus. STUDY DESIGN: Uterine rings from midpregnant (14-day) and late pregnant (21-day) rats were suspended in organ chambers to record spontaneous contractile activity. Concentration-response curves were obtained for the following natriuretic peptides: atrial, brain, and C-type; concentration-response curves were also obtained for diethylamine nitric oxide, 3-morpholino-sydnominine, and authentic nitric oxide. RESULTS: All 3 natriuretic peptides inhibited spontaneous uterine contractions equally at midgestation and late gestation. The inhibitory effects of the nitric oxide donors diethylamine nitric oxide, 3-morpholino-sydnominine, and authentic nitric oxide were attenuated in uterine tissues from animals in late stages of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Agents activating either soluble or particulate guanylate cyclase inhibit contractions of uterine rings from midgestation rats, whereas the effects of soluble guanylate cyclase are attenuated at late pregnancy. Thus spontaneous uterine contractions are under the control of both soluble and particulate guanylate cyclases; the former is dependent on gestational age but the latter is not.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)158-162
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Volume185
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Atrial natriuretic peptide
  • Brain natriuretic peptide
  • C-type natriuretic peptide
  • Contractility
  • Myometrium
  • Natriuretic peptides
  • Nitric oxide
  • Nitric oxide donors
  • Pregnancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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