UTERUS

FUNCTIONAL PHARMACOLOGY ASSAYS

• Preterm labour
• Dysmenorrhea
   

• Animal (rat, mouse, guinea-pig, rabbit, others upon request)

• Myometrial smooth muscle
   

• Oxytocin receptors
• α₂-adrenoceptors
• Prostaglandin receptors
• Phosphodiesterases
   

Myometrium is obtained from adult female rats. The myometrial muscles are cut into small strips and mounted under 1 g initial tension, in 5 ml organ baths containing oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit solution.

Contractile responses are measured using isometric tension transducers and recorded using a data acquisition system.

Examples of two experimental protocols:

Protocol A: After pre-treatment with an oxytocin antagonist L-371,257, tissues are challenged with increasing concentrations of oxytocin.

Protocol B: After pre-treatment with a selective α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI-118551, tissues are stimulated by 0.5 nM oxytocin followed by increasing concentrations of ritodrine (a selective α₂-adrenoceptor agonist).
 

• Rouget C et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:1644-50, 2005