Ureteral motility in sheep

New evidence for prostaglandin induced motility of the ureter

In the search for particular ultrastructural features which could be responsible for the persistent rhythmic contractility in sheep ureteral preparations we detected a large number of extracellular electron dense granules in the lamina propria of the ureter. These structures are very similar to lipid granules previously described in the renal papilla of the rat and man. Ureteral motility is blocked by indomethacin and prostaglandins are powerful stimulators of rhythmic contractions. Tissue extracts from the ureter contain substances which exhibit smooth muscle stimulating properties as shown in bioassays. Evidence is presented which shows that the ureteral granules contain lipid material which could be the source (precursor) of smooth muscle stimulating factors, probably prostaglandins.

Motility of the human ureter, with special reference to the effect of indomethacin

Ureteral motility was studied in isolated preparations obtained from 19 patients at surgery. Contraction was monitored in an organ bath and contraction recorded isometrically. In all but one patient rhythmic activity with a frequency of 2.0 +/- 0.3 contractions/min was recorded. In 6 patients contractions had to be elicited by stimulation with prostaglandin E2 or F2 alpha. In the remaining cases motility started spontaneously within 30 min. In patients with bilharzia nephropathy various pathological types of contraction were recorded. Motility was dose-dependently inhibited with indomethacin.