Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
Published on: January 10, 2025
Sex hormone effects in non-pregnant rat and human myometrium
Yuri P Vedernikov1, James R Hartke, Mitchell A de Long
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Building, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. yvederni@utmb.edu
Objective:
To study effects of sex hormones on spontaneous contractility and on the effects of depolarizing agent potassium chloride (KCl), M-cholinoceptor and prostaglandin receptor agonists on non-pregnant rat and human uterine tissues.
Study Design:
Uterine rings from ovariectomized rats treated with sex hormones or placebo, and uterine strips from premenopausal and postmenopausal women were equilibrated in Krebs buffer (t=37 degrees C, pH approximately 7.4) for isometric tension recordings. Spontaneous contractile activity and contractions in response to KCl, eicosanoids, and acetylcholine were compared.
Results:
In tissues from ovariectomized rats, spontaneous contractility was increased, while KCl-induced contractions were decreased. Treatment with 17beta-estradiol, but not progesterone, inhibited spontaneous contractions, but potentiated KCl evoked contractions. Treatment with 17beta-estradiol did not influence responses to prostanoids in ovariectomized rats, while treatment with both sex hormones restored decreased the responses. Spontaneous contractility and responses to KCl were less in uterine tissues from postmenopausal versus premenopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy partly restored the responses to KCl, prostanoids, and acetylcholine.
Conclusions:
Ovarian steroids modulate spontaneous contractile activity, responses to depolarization, prostanoids and M-cholinoceptor activation in non-pregnant rat and human uterine tissues in vitro.
