Figure 4.

The effect of the serine protease inhibitor on the myometrial contractions induced by thrombin and PAR1-AP. (a) Representative trace showing the inhibitory effect of the serine protease inhibitor, 4-aminidophenylmethane-sulphonyl fluoride (p-APMSF, 10 μM) on the 1 u ml⁻¹ thrombin-induced contraction of the pregnant rat myometrium. After observing the effect of p-APMSF-treated thrombin and stimulation once with 40 mM K⁺, the contracting effect of the untreated thrombin was examined. (b) Representative trace showing the effect of 10 μM p-APMSF on the 30 μM PAR1-AP-induced contraction of the pregnant rat myometrium. After observing the effect of p-APMSF-treated PAR1-AP and stimulation once with 40 mM K⁺, the contracting effect of the untreated PAR1-AP was examined.