Figure 3. In vitro stretch increases contractility in pregnant myometrium.

Uterine contractility was measured and quantified as the area under curve (AUC). AUC is the integral of the active force over a period time of 2 or 7 minutes before and after stretch. Dotted line indicates level of passive stretch. Data presented in the bar graph were collected from 8 term, not in labor, pregnant human myometrial samples and total 17 smooth muscle strips. ++ p<0.01 compared to the AUC of spontaneous contraction before 2 minute-stretch. ** p<0.01 compared to the AUC of spontaneous contraction before 7 minute-stretch. An insert was the representative myograph recording of contractile force from term pregnant human myometrium in response to in vitro stretch.