[Enzymatic activity of pentose cycle and the contractile function of rabbit womb as dependent on the carbon dioxide...

The in vitro experiments were carried out to study the electrical and mechanical activities of the myometrium of nonpregnant and pregnant female rabbits as well as the enzymic activity of the pentose cycle in this tissue as affected by changes in the concentration and a fixation degree of carbon dioxide. It is shown that an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the incubation medium decreases the enzymatic activity of nonoxidative unit of the pentose cycle, but has no effect on the carbon dioxide fixation, electrical and mechanical activity of the myometrium. The carbon dioxide fixation in the myometrium tissue during pregnancy is established to be intensified. A higher content of carbon dioxide in the medium weakens the womb with the tonic properties of prostaglandins being significantly deteriorated.