[Molecular mechanisms of regulation uterine contractile activity during pregnancy and labor in mammals]

Main purpose of the investigation was to study basic mechanisms of regulation uterine contractile activity on various stages of gestation, labor and to determine nature of substances activating, inhibiting and modulating myometrium contractility. The study was carried out on 115 pregnant and not pregnant women, and women in labor, and on 45 newborns. The experiments analyzed hypothalamus and uterus of 100 white rats and brain of 45 newborn rats. Dynamics of neuropeptides and catecholamine contents was investigated in maternal and fetal blood and tissues on various levels of gestation, labor and delivery. The level of neiropeptide in the blood was determined by the method of high pressure liquid chromatography. In the myometrium functional indexes of adrenal receptors (affinity and sensitivity) and especially isometric contractions under influence of investigated substances were examined. Interaction of the neuropeptide with catecholamine was analyzed by means of radioligand binding. It was established that along with steroid hormones, monoamines and prostaglandins, neiropeptide systems play important part in contractile mechanisms during gestation, labor and adaptation of fetus to the out-of-uterine life, particularly influencing the functions of organs-effectors, as well as modulating biochemical processes in the cells. Based on the results of our investigation and existing literary data we have suggested protocols of neuroendocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of cell biochemical processes during gestation, labor and delivery.