Endothelin Stimulation of Rat Uterine Segment Contractility Is Estrogen-Dependent

• Published in: Gynecologic and obstetric investigation Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 49 - 53
• Main Authors: Gittens, Lisa N., Wojtczuk, Andrea, Weiss, Gerson, Goldsmith, Laura T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.1998; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Animals; Area Under Curve; Biological and medical sciences; Endothelins - pharmacology; Endothelins - physiology; Estradiol - analogs & derivatives; Estradiol - pharmacology; Estrogens - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; Original Paper; Potassium - physiology; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Rats; Uterine Contraction - drug effects; Vertebrates: reproduction; United States; North America; America; Steroid; Endothelin; Uterine contractility; Estrogen; Estradiol benzoate; Kaliemia; Rat; Treatment efficiency; Peptide hormone; Rodentia; Contractility; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Uterus; Animal; Vasoconstrictor agent; Female; Combined treatment; Biological effect; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0378-7346; 1423-002X
• DOI: 10.1159/000009997

To determine whether the effect of endothelin upon in vitro uterine contractility requires estrogen, immature female Long Evans rats were subcutaneously injected daily for 3 days with either estradiol benzoate or vehicle. The uterine contractile response to endothelin (5 or 100 nM) was measured. A response to endothelin in vehicle-treated animals exposed to physiologic (5.6 mM) or high (70.6 mM) potassium levels was also noted. Vehicle-treated uteri did not respond to endothelin; the contractions in estrogen-treated uteri increased by 288%. With high potassium, and without estrogen, no response to endothelin was seen. These data indicate that the contractile effect of endothelin on the uterus requires estrogen.