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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
Published on: January 26, 2018
Multiple mechanisms involved in oxytocin-induced modulation of myometrial contractility
Anatoly Shmygol1, Joanna Gullam, Andrew Blanks
1Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. a.shmygol@warwick.ac.uk
Abstract:
Oxytocin is a small peptide hormone with multiple sites of action in human body. It regulates a large number of reproduction-related processes in all species. Particularly important is its ability to stimulate uterine contractility. This is achieved by multiple mechanisms involving sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and sensitization of the contractile apparatus to Ca2+. In this paper, we review the data published by us and other groups on oxytocin-induced modulation of uterine contractility. We conclude that sensitization of contractile apparatus to Ca2+ is the most relevant physiological effect of oxytocin on human myometrium.
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