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Updated: May 15, 2026
Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
Published on: January 26, 2018
Does preincubation with prostaglandin E1 or prostaglandin E2 enhance oxytocin-induced myometrial contractility in
Giuseppe Chiossi1, Luckey C Reed, Maged M Costantine
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0144, USA. ossidi74seppie@yahoo.it
Objective:
To determine if preincubation with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and E2 (PGE2) enhances oxytocin-induced myometrial contractility in vitro.
Study Design:
Myometrial strips from 13 women were incubated with PGE1 (10-5 mol/L or 10-6 mol/L), PGE2 (10-5 mol/L or 10-6 mol/L) or solvent before adding cumulative concentrations of oxytocin (10-10 to 10-6 mol/L). The area under the contraction curve was calculated after addition of each agent. One- and two-way analysis of variance was used for comparison (significance p < 0.05).
Results:
PGE2 10-5 mol/L reduced response to oxytocin 10-9 to 10-6 mol/L (p < 0.05). PGE2 reduced spontaneous myometrial contractility as compared with PGE1 (p < 0.05). A dose-dependent negative effect of prostaglandins was detected on oxytocin 10-8 mol/L (10-5 mol/L > 10-6 mol/L; p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Contrary to the hypothesis, neither PGE1 nor PGE2 enhanced oxytocin-induced myometrial contractility; in fact, PGE2 decreased contractility.
