Prostacyclin induces a surprising long-lasting motility in quiescent uterine strips (indomethacin-treated) isolated from ovariectomized rats

Physiological evidence for the possible existence of anhydrolevuglandin E2-like activity in extracts and media from uteri of rats

Physiological evidence is presented for the possible existence of anhydrolevuglandin E2-like activity in extracts of uteri from diestrous rats and after treatment of adult rats with estradiol and progesterone. The extracts were able to inhibit contractions in rat uterine preparations stimulated by PGE2. Uteri of vaginal Stage 3 (metestrus) were quiescent and showed decreased responsiveness to PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. These uteri showed some contractility when incubation medium from diestrous uteri (Stage 5) were transferred to them and incubation medium from them inhibited the contractility of Stage 5 uteri. When incubation media were exchanged between contractile uteri from of stages other than Stage 3, there was no change in the contraction patterns. Taken together, we believe these data indicate that AnLGE2 may be a normal constituent of the rat uterus and is physiologically increased during Stage 3 (metestrus) of the estrous cycle.

Prostaglandin output from and the spontaneous inotropism of uterine horns isolated from underfed rats at different stages of the sex cycle. Smooth muscle contractile influences of indomethacin and of methoxamine

The influences of a period of 15 days of restricted diet (50% of the normal food intake) in rats sacrificed at different stages of the sex cycle (proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus), were explored on: (1) the magnitude of uterine spontaneous phasic contractions (isometric developed tension = IDT); (2) the release of prostaglandins (PGs) F2 alpha and E2; from the uterus and (3) the myometrial inotropic responses evoked by methoxamine and indomethacin. At estrus and at proestrus, preparations from restricted diet rats exhibited greater initial (post-isolation) IDT and better contractile constancy during 60 min than did uteri from normal fed rats. This enhanced contractile constancy, but not that of preparations from control fed rats, was prevented by incubation "in vitro" with indomethacin (10(-6) M). At metestrus and at diestrus, uteri from normal fed rats presented higher initial levels of IDT and even more sustained contractile constancy than at estrus or at proestrus. Moreover, contractile profiles remained unaltered following the dietary restriction and the presence of indomethacin evoked similar negative inotropic actions in both experimental groups (fed and underfed). Dose-response curves for methoxamine documented its positive, but different, inotropic actions in the two groups and at the four periods of the estrous cycle. Indeed, in the underfed group at estrus and at proestrus, dose-response curves for methoxamine were shifted to the left of those in fed controls, a situation prevented by indomethacin (10(-6) M); whereas at metestrus and at diestrus, no differences in the inotropic reactivity towards methoxamine between the two experimental groups, were detected. On the other hand, indomethacin shifted to the right dose-response curves for the agonist, both in preparations from normal fed and from restricted diet rats. The generation and release of PGF2 alpha and of PGE2 were explored under normal and restricted diet conditions, both at estrus and at diestrus. Following the dietary restriction, the output of PGE2 from estrous uteri was augmented in comparison to controls, whilst the release of PGF2 alpha was not affected. At diestrus, dietary restriction failed to alter the uterine output of either one of these PGs. Results suggest that a greater generation and release of PGE2, following underfeeding, appears to subserve the increased spontaneous motility and the greater sensitivity of the rat uterus for adrenoreceptor agonists.

Is there a prostaglandin involvement in the positive inotropic action of histamine in isolated pregnant rat uterus, apparently mediated via H1-receptors activation?

Cumulative dose-response curves for histamine induced responses in mesometrial (ME) and antimesometrial (AME) regions of uterine horns isolated from rats at 7th, 16th and 22nd days of pregnancy, were constructed. Histamine inhibited, in dose-related fashion, the isometric developed tension in ME and AME strips obtained at the 7th day of pregnancy, an action antagonized by cimetidine (10(-4)-10(-5) M). On the contrary, at the 16th and 22nd days, histamine (10(-5)-10(-3) M), stimulated spontaneous contractions in the ME region but had no effect in the AME segment. Although histamine and SKF-71481-A2,aH1-receptor agonist, both at 10(-4) M, enhanced similarly ME inotropism at the 16th and at 22nd days of pregnancy, the positive contractile action of histamine was greater at the 16th than at the 22nd day. Moreover, cumulative dose-response curves for histamine and SKF-71481-A2 in the ME region of uteri isolated at the 16th day of gestation, showed that both agonists have approximately the same inotropic potency and efficacy. On the other hand, pyrilamine (at 10(-4) M, but not at 10(-5) M aH1-receptor antagonist, shifted to the right the dose-response curve for histamine in ME strips from uteri at the 16th day of pregnancy and attenuated significantly, the magnitude of the positive inotropism evoked by the amine. Similar findings were observed in the presence of chlorpheniramine (at 10(-6) M), another H1-receptor blocker. In addition, the positive uterine inotropism evoked by histamine in the ME region of preparations isolated at the 16th day of pregnancy, was significantly reduced by an antagonist of phospholipase A2 (mepacrine, 10(-4) M) as well as by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA at 10(-4) M), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. Results also indicate that the excitatory uterine inotropism elicited by the agonistic amine in ME strips isolated from rats at the 16th day of pregnancy, was coincident with an enhanced release of prostaglandins (PGs) E2 and F2 alpha, but not of PGE1 and that both augmenting actions of histamine were antagonized by histamine H1 receptor-blockers, namely pyrilamine (mepyramine or chlorpheniramine. Results suggest that histamine at early pregnancy diminished myometrial inotropism via its interaction with H2-receptors, whereas from mid pregnancy up to the moment of parturition it evokes contractile stimulation, most likely due to the activation of H1-receptor located at the mesometrial region of rat uterine horns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of E2 levuglandins on the contractile activity of the rat uterus

The effects of E2 levuglandins on the contractile activity of rat uterine horns were studied. LGE2, AnLGE2, delta 9-LGE2 and the synthetic epimer, 8-epi-delta 9-LGE2 all induced contractions in a dose-response fashion. AnLGE2 gave decreased responses with increased bath concentrations. Paired comparisons showed potent and selective inhibitory effects of AnLGE2 on the uterotonic activity of prostaglandins. AnLGE2 inhibited the uterotonic activity of PGE2 at a 0.1:1 ratio, of PGD2 at a 1:1 ratio, but did not inhibit the activity of PGF2 alpha. Exposure of spontaneously contracting uteri to high concentrations of AnLGE2, or prolonged exposure to lower concentrations, suppressed contractions.

Biological profile of a bioactive aortic substance (BAS), released by vessel rings from indomethacin-treated rats

The biological activity of a stable unknown material(s), generated by aortic rings (bioactive aortic substance = BAS) isolated from rats injected with a high dose of indomethacin, was explored on contractions of several smooth muscle preparations from normal rats and its effects compared with those elicited by prostacyclin (PGI2) or by 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-k-PGF1 alpha). The BAS evoked, as did PGI2 or 6-k-PGF1 alpha, positive inotropism in strips from rat stomach, ileum and urinary bladder, but failed to influence uterine contractions as did prostacyclin or its non-enzymatic metabolite. When tested in rat aortic strips both, PGI2 and the BAS produced relaxation, whereas 6-k-PGF1 alpha was not active. Moreover, lipid substances present in the incubates of aortic rings, were extracted and explored for effects on contractions of rat aortic strips and on arachidonate-evoked human platelet aggregation. These extracts were devoid of influence on both parameters. On the contrary, dried aqueous residues, after the lipid extraction of the supernatants of aortic ring incubates, exhibited human platelet antiaggregatory capacity as well as the ability to evoke positive and negative inotropism similar to those triggered by the BAS in different smooth muscle preparations. Experiments with BAS were also performed employing smooth muscle strips exposed to indomethacin, atropine, propranolol, phentolamine and cyproheptadine. The presence of these antagonists of several neuromodulators and of indomethacin failed to alter de BAS-induced inotropic capacity observed in controls. The findings suggest that the effects attributable to the BAS are not subserved by prostacyclin or other prostanoids, nor by acetylcholine, norepinephrine, histamine or 6-OH-tryptamine.

Prostaglandin synthesis from endogenous and exogenous arachidonic acid in the rat uterus. Effect of estradiol and progesterone

Regulation of uterine prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by steroid sex hormones was studied in female rats. Animals were ovariectomized (OVX) and received silastic implants of estradiol (E2) or progesterone (Pg); the implants were maintained for 7 days. The animals were sacrificed and their uteri homogenized at 4 degrees C. Basal levels of PGs and PGs synthesized during 20 min incubations at 37 degrees C, either without exogenous arachidonic acid (AA), or in the presence of 2.10(-5)M added AA were measured by RIA. Comparison between the various treatments shows that the regulation of uterine PG synthesis in the rat is a multistep process and depends on the type of PG. PGI2 (6 keto PGF1 alpha) is synthesised in very large amounts but is not very significantly influenced by hormonal treatment. PGF2 alpha and PGE2 are synthesized in much smaller quantities but are very dependent on hormonal treatment. E2 stimulates PGF2 alpha and inhibits PGE2, shifting the ratio from 0.5 in untreated OVX rats to 3.3 in OVX E2-treated rats. TXA2 (TXB2) is stimulated by E2. Pg significantly stimulates endogenous PGF2 alpha levels but does not change the profile of PGs synthesized from the endogenous substrate. It inhibits PGE2 synthesis from exogenously added AA. These results show that E2 favors PGF2 alpha synthesis at the expense of PGE2 and that the synthesis of PGI2, which is the main AA metabolite in the rat uterus is not hormone dependent, (at least not under the conditions of our experiments).