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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
Published on: January 26, 2018
Effect of maternal body mass index on in vitro response to tocolytics in term myometrium
Giuseppe Chiossi1, Maged M Costantine, Ancizar Betancourt
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Objective:
We sought to investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on in vitro response to tocolytics.
Study Design:
Myometrial biopsies were obtained at the time of scheduled cesarean deliveries from term nonlaboring women with BMI < or =29.9 (26.3 +/- 1.3; n = 7), 30-34.9 (31.8 +/- 1.2; n = 16), and > or = 35 (39.5 +/- 4.9; n = 9). Tissue strips were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. The effects of cumulative doses (10(-10) to 10(-5) mol/L) of nifedipine or indomethacin on spontaneous uterine contractility were determined. Areas under the contraction curve were compared using 1-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc test.
Results:
Myometrial response to tocolytics did not differ between the BMI groups. Nifedipine, but not indomethacin, significantly inhibited myometrial contractility independent of BMI.
Conclusion:
BMI does not affect uterine response to tocolytics in isolated uterine tissue from term nonlaboring women.
