Forskolin effects on longitudinal myometrial strips from the pregnant rat: relationship with membrane potential and cyclic AMP

Effect of Rp diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5' cyclic-monophosphothioate on the cAMP-dependent relaxation of smooth muscle

The effect of Rp diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate (Rp-cAMPS) on relaxation elicited by histamine (1-100 microM), forskolin (1-60 microM), papaverine (1-100 microM), vinpocetine (1-100 microM), rolipram (0.1-1 mM), Sp-cAMPS (10-300 microM), 8-BrcAMP (10 microM - 1 mM) and 8-BrcGMP (3 microM - 1 mM) of the previous vanadate-induced contraction was assayed. The effect of Rp-cAMPS on the relaxing effect produced by forskolin, papaverine, vinpocetine, rolipram, Sp-cAMPS and 8-BrcAMP in KCl-induced tonic contraction was also assayed. Histamine, forskolin, papaverine, rolipram, Sp-cAMPS, 8-BrcAMP and 8-BrcGMP, but not vinpocetine, relaxed the vanadate-induced contractions in rat uterus incubated in medium lacking calcium plus EDTA in a concentration-dependent way. Rp-cAMPS (1-300 microM) had no effect on vanadate contraction. However, it antagonized the relaxation elicited by histamine and papaverine, but not that of forskolin, rolipram, Sp-cAMPS, 8-BrcAMP and 8-BrcGMP. Forskolin, papaverine, vinpocetine, rolipram and 8-BrcAMP, but not Sp-cAMPS, relaxed the KCl-induced contraction. Rp-cAMPS antagonized the relaxation elicited by forskolin, papaverine and vinpocetine, but not that of rolipram and 8-BrcAMP. Our results suggest that: a) Rp-cAMPS is an effective PKA inhibitor that could be used to study the involvement of cAMP on drug-induced response in smooth muscle, and b) the effects of Sp-cAMPS, 8-BrcAMP and rolipram were independent of the activation of protein kinases.

Forskolin inhibition of K+ current in pregnant rat uterine smooth muscle cells

Two kinds of outward K+ currents were examined in single smooth muscle cells from pregnant rat uterus, using whole-cell voltage clamp. The first and faster component was more sensitive to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), whereas the second and slower (delayed) component was more sensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA). A possible third K+ component (Ca activated K+ current) was not recorded as the pipette solution included EGTA. Forskolin inhibited the outward current in a concentration-dependent manner (50% inhibition occurred at about 30 microM); it affected the delayed component rather than the fast component. 8-Bromo-cAMP did not alter the outward current. In addition, inhibitors of protein kinase A and GDP-beta S and GTP-gamma S did not affect the forskolin-induced inhibition. These results indicate that forskolin inhibition of the delayed component of the outward current is independent of cAMP generation in the pregnant rat myometrial cells. Therefore, forskolin seems to directly inhibit specific K+ channels, as was reported for several other cell types.

Role for cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the synergistic interaction between oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing factor in isolated human gestational myometrium

OBJECTIVE

We wished to investigate the role of cAMP in the synergistic effect of corticotrophin-releasing factor and oxytocin on human myometrial contractility.

DESIGN

Isolated human gestational myometrium obtained from Caesarean sections at term was studied in vitro. Static incubation techniques as well as tension recordings were applied to the tissue obtained.

PATIENTS

The subjects were healthy pregnant women undergoing lower segment Caesarean section at term, prior to labour.

MEASUREMENTS

Specimens obtained were immediately dissected into small strips and either incubated in multi-well trays (strip weight 2.75 mg) or superfused and used for tension recordings (strip weight 2.00 mg). cAMP accumulation was measured after incubation with oxytocin (0.1-10 nM), corticotrophin-releasing factor (1 nM) or a combination of both peptides. Tension generated by the muscle strips was recorded isometrically and response to oxytocin (0.01-10 nM), corticotrophin-releasing factor (1 nM) and forskolin (10 nM) expressed in force per gram wet tissue (N/g).

RESULTS

Oxytocin (0.1 nM) causes a statistically significant dose-related decrease in cAMP when combined with 1 nM corticotrophin-releasing factor (P less than 0.001), as compared with cAMP stimulation by corticotrophin-releasing factor alone. Time course studies suggest a maximal effect at 1 minute. The hypothesis that an intracellular reduction of cAMP is a prerequisite for the synergistic response in contraction force was tested with tension recordings. Prevention of a decrease in cAMP in the tissue by addition of 10 nM forskolin to the superfusate abolished the potentiation between oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing factor.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that a fall in cAMP concentration plays a vital mediating role in the synergistic interaction between oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing factor.

Actions of forskolin and isoprenaline on the separated myometrial layers of the guinea-pig uterus: influence of ovarian steroids and pregnancy

Responses to forskolin and isoprenaline of electrically stimulated preparations of longitudinal and circular myometrium were compared. The guinea-pigs used were: untreated (dioestrous), ovarian steroid-treated, pregnant and post-partum. Forskolin inhibited electrically evoked contractions of both myometrial layers obtained from all groups; there was no change in its potency or its maximum effect (90-100% inhibition). The inhibition of contractions of longitudinal myometrium by isoprenaline was enhanced with steroid treatment, attaining a maximum in late pregnancy and immediately post-partum. In circular myometrium, there was no significant change in the potency of isoprenaline on tissues from ovarian steroid-treated animals. However, maximum potency as well as maximum response was observed in late pregnancy. Since the effects of isoprenaline but not of forskolin were modulated, we suggest that ovarian steroids and pregnancy may alter the coupling of beta-adrenoceptors to the adenylate cyclase system.

Uncoupling of excitation from contraction in uterine smooth muscle in near-term ewes

We infused forskolin in 30% ethanol or 30% ethanol systemically in seven chronically catheterized near-term sheep to determine the response of ovine uterine musculature to cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation. Maternal and fetal arterial pressure, fetal venous pressure, intrauterine pressure, and uterine electromyogram activity were monitored continuously. Prostaglandin E2 was infused at a delivery rate that caused a minimal 5 mm Hg increase in intrauterine pressure with definite contraction-like pressure spikes and associated uterine electromyogram activity. Forskolin (10 mg in 30% ethanol) or ethanol (vehicle) was then infused for 20 minutes. The prostaglandin E2 challenge was repeated 3 minutes later and again every 30 minutes over a 2 1/2-hour period. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Infusion of ethanol (n = 2) had no apparent effect on either the intrauterine pressure or the uterine electromyogram response to prostaglandin E2 challenge. Forskolin infusion (n = 5) caused an attenuation of the intrauterine pressure response to prostaglandin E2 for 93 minutes. This effect was greatest 33 minutes after the infusion ended when the integrated pressure signal was 37% of the initial prostaglandin E2 response. The forskolin infusion had no effect on uterine electromyogram response to prostaglandin E2. We conclude that forskolin causes an uncoupling of excitation from contraction in the intact near-term ovine uterus.

Interactions between forskolin, calcium and Bay K 8644 in K+-depolarized rat uterine muscle

1. Forskolin (FORS) (0.03 to 10 microM) caused a concentration-dependent rightward shifts of the dose-response curves to CaCl2 in the isolated K+-depolarized rat uterus, with apparent, pA2 value of 8.3, but the slope was different from unity (0.55). 2. In presence of Bay K 8644 (10 and 100 nM), the pA2 values for FORS against CaCl2 contractions were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner and increased the slopes of Schild plots to values no longer different from unity. 3. In presence of low Ca2+ concentration (0.22 nM), the potency of FORS in antagonizing CaCl2 contractions was reduced in about 2-fold. 4. FORS (0.3-3 microM) caused a dose- and time-dependent relaxation of sustained contraction induced by CaCl2 (0.5 mM). 5. FORS (0.3 microM) like nifedipine (NIF, 30 pM) caused a concentration-dependent displacement to the right of the dose-response curve to Bay K 8644 (0.1-100 nM) in K+-depolarized preparations. 6. Higher concentration of both FORS (1 and 3 microM) and NIF (0.01 and 0.03 nM) also reduced the maximal response of Bay K 8644. 7. Both drugs caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of uterine muscle contracted by Bay K 8644 (100 nM) and K+ (80 nM), but neither FORS nor NIF discriminated the two types of contraction.

A new look at uterine muscle contraction

Recent progress in our understanding of uterine smooth muscle contraction is reviewed. We no longer believe that actin-myosin interaction in the myometrium occurs through activation of the thin filament; but it is triggered by calcium-dependent phosphorylation of myosin in the thick filament. Calcium is now thought to originate from both extracellular and intracellular sources. Calcium can enter the cell through either a voltage- or a hormone-controlled calcium channel. The intracellular source of calcium is the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The effect of oxytocin in human labor is no longer considered the result of increased circulating oxytocin but rather of increased oxytocin receptors. In contrast, the contractile action of some prostaglandins is related to increased prostaglandin formation at human parturition. The step between hormone binding and cellular action is mediated by second messengers. The uterine-relaxing action of cyclic adenosine monophosphate is now thought to be limited to the inhibition of myosin phosphorylation. Recently discovered second messengers for contraction of the myometrium are phosphoinositides; their turnover causes calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Guanine nucleotides are thought to be modulators of these two second messengers.