Effects of ovarian steroids upon responses mediated by adrenoceptors in separated layers of the myometrium and in the costo-uterine muscle of the guinea-pig

The In Vitro Contractile Response of Canine Pregnant Myometrium to Oxytocin and Denaverine Hydrochloride

In pregnant bitches, the response to oxytocin and denaverine hydrochloride in dystocia management is usually poor. To better understand the effect of both drugs on myometrial contractility, the circular and longitudinal muscle layers were examined in an organ bath. For each layer, three myometrial strips were stimulated twice, each with one of three oxytocin concentrations. The effect of denaverine hydrochloride was studied once in direct combination with oxytocin and alone with subsequent oxytocin administration. Contractions were recorded and evaluated for average amplitude, mean force, area under the curve (AUC), and frequency. Effects of different treatments were analyzed and compared within and between layers. In the circular layer, oxytocin significantly increased amplitude and mean force compared to untreated controls regardless of stimulation cycles or concentrations. In both layers, high oxytocin concentrations caused tonic contractions, while the lowest concentration created regular rhythmic contractions. Longitudinal layer tissue responded to oxytocin with a significantly decreased contractility when stimulated twice, presumably a sign of desensitization. Denaverine hydrochloride neither affected oxytocin induced contractions nor showed a priming effect to subsequent oxytocin. Thus, no benefit of denaverine hydrochloride on myometrial contractility was found in the organ bath. Our results suggest a better efficiency of low-dose oxytocin in canine dystocia management.

Autonomic control of the urogenital tract

The urogenital tract houses many of the organs that play a major role in homeostasis, in particular those that control water and salt balance, and reproductive function. This review focuses on the anatomical and functional innervation of the kidneys, urinary ducts and bladders of the urinary system, and the gonads, gonadal ducts, and intromittent organs of the reproductive tract. The literature, especially in recent years, is overwhelmingly skewed toward the situation in mammals. Nevertheless, where specific neurochemical markers have been investigated, common patterns of innervation can be found in representatives from most vertebrate classes. Not surprisingly the vasculature, epithelia and smooth muscle of all urogenital organs receives adrenergic innervation. These nerves may contain non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitters such as ATP and NPY. Cholinergic nerves increase motility in most urogenital organs with the exception of the kidney. The major NANC nerves found to influence urogenital organs include those containing VIP/PACAP, galanin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase. These can be found associated with both smooth muscle and epithelia. The role these nerves play, and the circumstances where they are activated are for the most part unknown.

Purinoceptor-mediated contractility of the perfused uterine vasculature of the guinea-pig: influence of oestradiol and pregnancy

1. The effects of ATP, the stable ATP analogues alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-mATP), 2-methylthioATP (2meSATP) and adenosine tetraphosphate (ATP4), the pyrimidine nucleotide uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) and the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine were examined on the isolated perfused uterine vasculature of dioestrous, oestradiol-treated, dexamethasone-treated and late-pregnant guinea-pigs. 2. The alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine elicited concentration-dependent vasoconstriction from preparations of perfused uterine vasculature from dioestrous, estradiol-treated and late-pregnant guinea-pigs. The mean maximal response to phenylephrine was unaffected by treatment of dioestrus guinea-pigs with oestradiol or dexamethasone, but was reduced in preparations from late-pregnant animals. 3. In perfused uterine arteries from dioestrous animals, the pyrimidine UTP, but not ATP4 and ATP, elicited vasoconstrictor responses. In preparations from oestradiol-treated animals, all three agonists elicited vasoconstriction, with a rank order of potency of ATP4 = UTP >> ATP, whereas in preparations from late-pregnant animals this order of potency was ATP4 >> UTP = ATP. In preparations from dexamethasone-treated animals, the vasoconstriction was similar to that seen in dioestrous animals. Vasoconstrictor responses to ATP4 were significantly greater in preparations of uterine vasculature from oestradiol-treated and pregnant animals than in preparations from dioestrous animals or dexamethasone-treated animals. 4. In preparations from dioestrous, oestradiol-treated, pregnant and dexamethasone-treated animals, alpha,beta-mATP was approximately two to three orders of magnitude more potent than 2meSATP. Compared with preparations from dioestrous animals, the maximal responses to alpha,beta-mATP were significantly greater in tissues from oestradiol-treated and pregnant animals. In preparations from dioestrous animals, the P2 purinoceptor antagonist suramin (100 micro mol/L) inhibited the responses to alpha,beta-mATP, but not those to ATP4. 5. The present study has demonstrated that pregnancy, but not the steroid treatment of dioestrous guinea-pigs with oestradiol or dexamethasone, reduces the sensitivity of the guinea-pig isolated perfused uterine vasculature to phenylephrine. In contrast, preparations from pregnant or oestradiol-treated guinea-pigs respond to ATP4 and to alpha,beta-mATP with significantly greater constrictions than those of dioestrous or dexamethasone-treated animals. These data indicate that the sensitivity of the uterine vasculature to adrenoceptor and purinoceptor agonists is differentially regulated by oestradiol and pregnancy, but not by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone.

Identification of functional alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes in the bovine female genital tract during different phases of the oestrous cycle

The concentration and functionality of the alpha-adrenoceptor (alpha-AR) subtypes in the genital tract of cyclic heifers were investigated. In each tissue sample, a single class of alpha1-ARs was observed, whereas two distinct classes of alpha2-ARs were discriminated: low-affinity (LA) and high-affinity (HA) alpha2-ARs. Statistical analysis showed the presence of significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of all alpha-AR subtypes in the follicle than in the corpus luteum. No significant differences were found in the ovary or myometrium between the luteal and follicular phases. In the ovary, the density of alpha1-ARs was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of alpha2-ARs. By contrast, there were significantly (p < 0.05) more alpha2-ARs than alpha1-ARs in the myometrium. As far as alpha2-ARs are concerned, LA alpha2-ARs were significantly (p<0.05) higher than HA alpha2-ARs in all tested tissues. Competition studies suggested that the rank order of potency of antagonists for alpha1-ARs was prazosin > phentolamine > yohimbine, whereas for alpha2-ARs the order of potency was yohimbine > or = phentolamine>prazosin. Functional assays performed on myometrium showed that noradrenaline, phenylephrine and clonidine elicited concentration-dependent contractions only in dioestrus and pro-oestrus preparations and that clonidine was more effective than phenylephrine as a contractile agent. It appeared that there were no significant modifications in alpha-AR affinity or concentration during the different stages of bovine oestrous cycle, whereas the uterine spontaneous activity and the responsiveness to alpha-adrenergic stimulation was strongly influenced by hormonal levels. The modifications of uterine contractility observed during the oestrous cycle may be related to modifications induced in the transductional mechanisms of alpha-ARs.

Muscle layer and regional differences in autonomic innervation and responsiveness to transmitter agents in swine myometrium

1. To clarify possible regional and muscle layer differences in adrenergic innervation of swine myometrium, functional, biochemical and histochemical experiments were performed on longitudinal (LM) and circular (CM) muscle isolated from non-pregnant uteri of 84 gilts. 2. Transmural stimulation (TMS) in the presence of propranolol evoked tetrodotoxin-sensitive contractions in a frequency-dependent manner (2-20 Hz) in LM and CM. The cornual LM contractions were attenuated by phentolamine (1 microM) and by guanethidine (10 microM) though unaffected by atropine (1 microM). Contractions in cervical LM were diminished by atropine but not by phentolamine, and the corpus LM contractions were reduced incrementally by atropine and phentolamine when added sequentially. In CM, the TMS-induced contractions were abolished by tetrodotoxin and atropine in all three regions. 3. In response to noradrenaline (NA) and acetylcholine (ACh), LM contractile intensity was the most potent in cornua, slightly weaker in the corpus and weakest in the cervix. CM was insensitive to NA, and contractile responses elicited by ACh indicated no regional variation. 4. NA content, significantly greater in LM than in CM, was most highly concentrated in cornual LM. Nerves exhibiting glyoxylic acid-induced histofluorescence occurred in both LM and CM, though more abundantly in LM and with notable density in the cornual LM. Cholinesterase activity, distributed evenly throughout the three myometrial regions studied, was more intense in LM than in CM. 5. These results show that, in swine myometrium, innervation in cornual LM is predominantly noradrenergic, cervical LM is mostly cholinergic, and throughout the myometrium the CM layers are principally cholinergic.

Alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the guinea-pig uterus: heterogeneity in the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers

Homogenate binding and functional studies have been undertaken to investigate the role of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the circular and longitudinal myometrial layers of the dioestrous guinea-pig uterus. Each myometrial layer contained a single population of [3H]rauwolscine binding sites (KD values approximately 3 nM) for which yohimbine exhibited a higher affinity than prazosin, and xylazine a higher affinity than phenylephrine, indicating the presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding sites. In circular myometrium, xylazine enhanced contractile responses, was more potent than either noradrenaline or phenylephrine in inhibiting forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP, and reduced the inhibitory effect of forskolin on phenylephrine-induced phosphatidyl inositol hydrolysis. In longitudinal myometrium xylazine enhanced contractile responses to phenylephrine but did not inhibit forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP. We conclude that alpha 2-adrenoceptor binding sites are present in both uterine layers and mediate uterine contractility possibly through different mechanisms.

A1- and A2-purinoceptors in the guinea-pig uterus

1. Radioligand binding and functional studies were undertaken to investigate the P1-purinoceptors present in the separated myometrial layers and the endometrium of the guinea-pig uterus. 2. In preparations of endometrium-denuded circular myometrium, the A2-selective agonists (2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adeno sin e (CGS 21680, 100 mumol/L) and N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine (NECA, 1-10 mumol/L) inhibited contractile responses to phenylephrine. In preparations of endometrium-intact circular myometrium, NECA (10 mumol/L) enhanced responses to phenylephrine. NECA did not modulate the spontaneous contractions of longitudinal myometrium. 3. Homogenate binding studies with circular myometrium, longitudinal myometrium and endometrium revealed saturable high affinity [3H]-NECA binding sites. The mean maximal densities of binding sites (Bmax) were 2.08, 14.7 and 15.5 fmol/mg protein, and pKD (neg. log dissociation constant) values were 9.82, 9.19 and 7.44, respectively. 4. (R-) and (S-)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R- and S-PIA) both competed for two [3H]-NECA binding sites in preparations of circular myometrium. CGS 21680 competed for two [3H]-NECA binding sites in preparations of endometrium and longitudinal myometrium. All other agonist competition was for one site only. The rank orders of potency of high affinity binding were S-PIA > or =R-PIA > or = CGS 21680 (circular myometrium), R-PIA > CGS 21680 > or = S-PIA (longitudinal myometrium) and CGS 21680 > > S-PIA > or = R-PIA (endometrium). 5. In preparations of circular myometrium, longitudinal myometrium and endometrium the selective A1-purinoceptor antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-(2-amino-4-chloro)-phenylxanthine (PACPX), competed for two [3H]-NECA binding sites, the non-selective antagonist 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX), competed for one site only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actions of forskolin and isoprenaline on the separated myometrial layers of the guinea-pig uterus: influence of ovarian steroids and pregnancy

Responses to forskolin and isoprenaline of electrically stimulated preparations of longitudinal and circular myometrium were compared. The guinea-pigs used were: untreated (dioestrous), ovarian steroid-treated, pregnant and post-partum. Forskolin inhibited electrically evoked contractions of both myometrial layers obtained from all groups; there was no change in its potency or its maximum effect (90-100% inhibition). The inhibition of contractions of longitudinal myometrium by isoprenaline was enhanced with steroid treatment, attaining a maximum in late pregnancy and immediately post-partum. In circular myometrium, there was no significant change in the potency of isoprenaline on tissues from ovarian steroid-treated animals. However, maximum potency as well as maximum response was observed in late pregnancy. Since the effects of isoprenaline but not of forskolin were modulated, we suggest that ovarian steroids and pregnancy may alter the coupling of beta-adrenoceptors to the adenylate cyclase system.

Actions of some autacoids and peptides, including relaxin, on costo-uterine muscle from rats

1. The actions of angiotensin II, bradykinin, oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, relaxin, serotonin and the prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha were examined on preparations of costo-uterine muscle from stilboestrol-treated rats. 2. All the agonists, except relaxin, when used in concentrations which contract the rat uterus, also produced contractions of costo-uterine muscles. Concentration-response curves were steep and maximal responses to the agonists were comparable. The negative log molar EC50 values were: serotonin, 6.5; angiotensin II, 8.8; bradykinin, 8.4; PGE2, 8.3; PGF2 alpha, 7.1. The EC50 values (units/L) for oxytocin and vasopressin were 4.4 and 2.7 respectively. 3. Indomethacin (2.8 or 5 mumol/L) did not decrease the contractile effects of the peptides or serotonin. The effects of serotonin were reduced, but not reversed, by methysergide (0.94 mumol/L). 4. Porcine relaxin inhibited field stimulation-induced contractions of costo-uterine muscle and uterine horns from immature rats pretreated with oestradiol cypionate and from stilboestrol-treated mature rats. It was much less potent, and its effects were less clearly concentration-related, on costo-uterine muscle. 5. The inhibitory effects of relaxin on the uterus were unaffected by propranolol (1 mumol/L), confirming that on this tissue relaxin acts independently of the release of catecholamines. Progesterone (30 mumol/L) was also without effect on the action of relaxin on the uterus. 6. These results taken together indicate that the costo-uterine muscle of the rat: (i) contracts in response to serotonin and the peptides angiotensin II, arginine vasopressin, bradykinin and oxytocin independently of the release of the contractile prostaglandins F2 alpha and E2; and (ii) in contrast to the uterus, may lack a significant population of receptors for relaxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The actions of histamine on the separated layers of the guinea-pig uterus: the influence of ovarian steroids

The effects of histamine have been studied on separated circular and longitudinal myometrial layers from the guinea-pig. Virgin guinea-pigs in dioestrus were (1) untreated, (2) treated for 14 days thrice weekly with oestradiol cypionate 20 micrograms/kg s.c., or (3) treated as in (2) but in addition with progesterone 3 mg/animal s.c. daily for 4 days before use. Preparations were field-stimulated (60 V 2 ms 30 Hz for 5 s every 100 s) to elicit regular contractions. Histamine was equipotent in producing enhancement of evoked contractions of circular myometrium from animals in each treatment group (pD2 = 5.03, 5.05 and 4.95 in groups 1, 2 & 3 respectively), and enhanced contractility in all but two longitudinal myometrial preparations. Treatment with oestradiol alone, and with oestradiol and progesterone following oestradiol priming enhanced the magnitude of maximal response and produced a small decrease in the potency of histamine on the longitudinal myometrium. pA2 estimates for mepyramine as an antagonist were similar (8.6) in preparations of longitudinal myometrium from each group of animals. Metiamide (1-10 mumol/l) did not antagonise the effects of histamine in this layer. These results, taken together, indicate that ovarian steroids act selectively on the longitudinal myometrial layer to amplify the action of histamine, but do not alter the histamine receptor subtype which in this layer is exclusively H1.

Fenoterol and salbutamol actions on guinea-pig myometrium: effects of ovarian steroids

Responses of isolated preparations of longitudinal myometrium from the guinea-pig to fenoterol, salbutamol and isoprenaline were examined. Virgin adult guinea-pigs were treated (i) with oestradiol cypionate 20 micrograms/kg s.c. thrice weekly for two weeks; or (ii) as in (i) plus progesterone 3 mg/animal for the last four days. Other animals (diestrous; cycle days 6-10) were untreated. The order of potency of the agonists in inhibiting field stimulation-induced contractions of the preparations (isoprenaline greater than or equal to fenoterol greater than salbutamol) indicated interaction with beta 2-adrenoceptors. Oestrogen treatment enhanced the potency of isoprenaline 5-fold. Treatment with oestrogen plus progesterone enhanced the potency of all agonists 10- to 30-fold, and increased the mean maximum response to salbutamol. The mean pKD values for displacement by fenoterol of binding of (-)-[125I]cyanopindolol to membrane preparations from animals in both treatment groups were 5.57-5.92. These results raise the possibility that progesterone may enhance the coupling of beta 2-adrenoceptors to transduction mechanisms in the longitudinal myometrium from oestrogen-primed guinea-pigs.

Uterine contractility and actions of catecholamines in longitudinal and circular uterine layers from ovariectomised guinea-pigs: the effects of ovarian steroids

The influence of ovarian steroids upon responses to electrical stimulation and to activation of adrenoreceptors in field-stimulated preparations of longitudinal and circular myometrium from ovariectomised guinea-pigs has been investigated. Adult virgin guinea-pigs were bilaterally ovariectomised and were treated two weeks later with thrice-weekly injections of oestradiol cypionate for two weeks, or treated as in then given oestradiol cypionate and progesterone for a further four days. Control groups of bilaterally ovariectomised and sham ovariectomised animals remained untreated. Both myometrial layers from untreated ovariectomised guinea-pigs were atrophied. Responses to field stimulation in the circular myometrium were much smaller than those in the longitudinal layer. Steroid pretreatment, most notably treatment with oestradiol and progesterone, were associated with decreased and increased responsiveness to electrical stimulation in the circular and longitudinal myometrial layers respectively. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were consistently excitatory on preparations of circular myometrium from ovariectomised animals. Responses comprised either enhancement of electrically-evoked contractions, or, with the higher concentrations, the appearance of rapid contractions superimposed upon an increase in basal tone. The latter effects were also evident in preparations of circular myometrium from sham operated animals. In preparations of longitudinal myometrium from untreated ovariectomised animals noradrenaline consistently and adrenaline usually caused a simple enhancement of the magnitude of the evoked contractions. Phentolamine reduced the excitatory effects of both amines in both layers. In circular myometrium from the oestrogen-treated group both catecholamines produced phentolamine-sensitive enhancement of electrically-evoked contractions, but did not cause high frequency contractions or increased tonus. Noradrenaline and adrenaline produced qualitatively similar phentolamine-sensitive effects in preparations of longitudinal myometrium from this group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline in separated longitudinal and circular myometrial preparations from the guinea-pig: selective modulation by ovarian steroids

Field-stimulated strips of circular and longitudinal myometrium from virgin adult guinea-pigs were used to study the influence of ovarian steroids upon uterine responses to adrenaline and noradrenaline. Preparations were taken from animals (i) untreated, on day 9 or 10 of the oestrous cycle; (ii) treated for 14 days with oestradiol cypionate, beginning on day 9 or 10; and (iii) treated as in (ii) then given both oestradiol cypionate and progesterone for a further four days. Oestradiol treatment led to a 2-fold increase in the circulating level of progesterone; subsequent treatment of oestradiol-primed animals with progesterone resulted in even higher circulating progesterone levels, comparable with those occurring during mid-pregnancy in this species. Both adrenaline and noradrenaline produced phentolamine-sensitive motor responses of circular myometrial preparations from each treatment group. Steroid treatment was without significant effect on the potencies or maximal effects of the two amines on the circular muscle layer. Both catecholamines effected phentolamine-sensitive excitatory responses of longitudinal myometrial preparations from untreated guinea-pigs. Adrenaline usually produced propranolol-sensitive inhibitory responses of longitudinal preparations from oestradiol-treated animals, while noradrenaline did so only in a minority of cases. The potencies of adrenaline as an inhibitory agonist and noradrenaline as an excitatory agonist were markedly increased in preparations from oestradiol-primed animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)