Mast cells mediators evoke contractility and potentiate each other in mouse uterine horns

1. The ability of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), histamine and serotonin to induce and/or potentiate contractions in mouse uterine horns was studied in an attempt to analyze whether uterine mast cells degranulation could favor contractions during labor. 2. PGF2 alpha was the most potent of the three compounds (EC50 = 0.7 microM), being followed by serotonin (EC50 = 1.2 microM) and histamine. Between 10 and 100 microM histamine only evoked weak contractions, not higher than 50% of maximal amplitude of contractions. 3. Serotonin (0.1 microM) potentiated the contractile effect of both histamine and PGF2 alpha when added simultaneously with the corresponding compound to the isolated organ bath. Also, histamine at threshold contractile concentration (3 microM) was able to potentiate the contractile effect of both serotonin and PGF2 alpha. 4. The potentiating effect of PGF2 alpha on both histamine and serotonin evoked contractions was recorded after treating the preparation with 10 microM of the compound for at least 10 min before the corresponding concentration-effect curves were performed. 5. It is postulated that the simultaneous presence of these mast cells mediators in myometrium could be an important stimulus for both to trigger and/or to maintain contractions during labor.