Skip to main content
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1974 Nov;52(3):393–399. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1974.tb08608.x

Effects of prostaglandin inhibitors on angiotensin, oxytocin and prostaglandin F contractile effects on the rat uterus during the oestrous cycle

Maryvonne Baudouin-Legros, P Meyer, M Worcel
PMCID: PMC1777021  PMID: 4376438

Abstract

1 In the rat isolated uterus maximal spontaneous contractions and maximal sensitivity to angiotensin II, oxytocin and prostaglandin F were observed in di- and proestrus. Minimal sensitivity to the three agonists was observed in metoestrus. Maximal contractile effects of angiotensin II, oxytocin and prostaglandin F were thus observed when the ratio oestrogen/progesterone levels was high.

2 The oestrogen-dependent sensitivity of the rat uterus is partially mediated by endogenous prostaglandins. Indomethacin suppressed the increased sensitivity to angiotensin and oxytocin present in dioestrus and proestrus but did not affect that to prostaglandin F. Polyphloretin phosphate at a concentration of 10 μg/ml resulted in complete identity of dioestrus and metoestrus dose-response curves to angiotensin and oxytocin.

3 Spontaneous uterine contractions observed when oestrogen levels are high are also dependent on intramural prostaglandins as they were inhibited by indomethacin and polyphloretin phosphate. In the metoestrus uterus, prostaglandin F induced the reappearance of spontaneous contractions.

4 Prostaglandin F had a potentiating effect on angiotensin-elicited contractions which persisted after washing out prostaglandin F.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Abdel-Aziz A., Bakry N. The nature of the adrenoceptors in the post-partum rat uterus. Br J Pharmacol. 1972 Jul;45(3):504–509. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb08107.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aiken J. W. Aspirin and indomethacin prolong parturition in rats: evidence that prostaglandins contribute to expulsion of fetus. Nature. 1972 Nov 3;240(5375):21–25. doi: 10.1038/240021a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Butterworth K. R., Randall M. J. The effects of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents on the responses of the rat uterus to catecholamines throughout the oestrus cycle. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Sep;40(1):160P–161P. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Challis J. R., Harrison F. A., Heap R. B., Horton E. W., Poyser N. L. A possible role of oestrogens in the stimulation of prostaglandin F 2 output at the time of parturition in a sheep. J Reprod Fertil. 1972 Sep;30(3):485–488. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0300485. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Diamond J., Brody T. M. Effect of catecholamines on smooth muscle motility and phosphorylase activity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1966 May;152(2):202–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Douglas J. R., Jr, Johnson E. M., Jr, Marshall G. R., Jaffe B. M., Needleman P. Stimulation of splenic prostaglandin release by angiotensin and specific inhibition by cysteine 8-AII. Prostaglandins. 1973 Jan;3(1):67–74. doi: 10.1016/0090-6980(73)90138-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Eakins K. E., Karim S. M., Miller J. D. Antagonism of some smooth muscle actions of prostaglandins by polyphloretin phosphate. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Jul;39(3):556–563. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb10363.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gans P. Effects of prostaglandins and oxytocin on the uterine motility of the living rat under various hormonal conditions. Adv Biosci. 1973;9:783–788. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hori T., Ide M., Miyake T. Ovarian estrogen secretion during the estrous cycle and under the influence of exogenous gonadotropins in rats. Endocrinol Jpn. 1968 Jun;15(2):215–222. doi: 10.1507/endocrj1954.15.215. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McGiff J. C., Crowshaw K., Terragno N. A., Lonigro A. J. Release of a prostaglandin-like substance into renal venous blood in response to angiotensin II. Circ Res. 1970 Jul;27(1 Suppl 1):121–130. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Paton D. M. The contractile response of the isolated rat uterus to noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Eur J Pharmacol. 1968 Jul;3(4):310–315. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(68)90113-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Sullivan T. J. Response of the mammalian uterus to prostaglandins under differing hormonal conditions. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1966 Mar;26(3):678–685. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1966.tb01847.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Tothill A. Investigation of adrenaline reversal in the rat uterus by the induction of resistance to isoprenaline. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1967 Mar;29(3):291–301. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1967.tb01960.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Tothill A., Rathbone L., Willman E. Relation between prostaglandin E2 and adrenaline reversal in the rat uterus. Nature. 1971 Sep 3;233(5314):56–57. doi: 10.1038/233056a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Uchida K., Kadowaki M., Miyake T. Ovarian secretion of progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one during rat estrous cycle in chronological relation to pituitary release of luteinizing hormone. Endocrinol Jpn. 1969 Apr;16(2):227–237. doi: 10.1507/endocrj1954.16.227. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Vane J. R. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as a mechanism of action for aspirin-like drugs. Nat New Biol. 1971 Jun 23;231(25):232–235. doi: 10.1038/newbio231232a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Vane J. R., Williams K. I. Prostaglandin production contributes to the contractions of the rat isolated uterus. Br J Pharmacol. 1972 May;45(1):146P–146P. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Vane J. R., Williams K. I. The contribution of prostaglandin production to contractions of the isolated uterus of the rat. Br J Pharmacol. 1973 Aug;48(4):629–639. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08250.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES