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Relaxant Effects of Gemfibrozil on Smooth Muscle from the Duodenum, Urinary Bladder, Uterus and Caudal Artery of the Rat
Author(s) -
Peuler Jacob D.,
Phelps Laura E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1162-a
Subject(s) - contractility , gemfibrozil , urinary bladder , uterus , duodenum , endocrinology , medicine , smooth muscle , ileum , artery , ureter , myometrium , antispasmodic , vasopressin , chemistry , anatomy , urology , pharmacology , cholesterol
Gemfibrozil is widely used in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemias. After oral doses, it is well absorbed from the intestine into the circulation. Most is excreted into the urine. We sought to determine whether it can influence smooth muscle contractility in several of the tissues with which it comes in contact. The following smooth muscle‐containing tissues were isolated from adult rats immediately after euthanasia: duodenum (D), urinary bladder (B), uterus (U) and caudal artery (CA). All but the latter were sectioned into longitudinal segments. The CA was cut into cylindrical rings. Each preparation was suspended from a Grass force transducer and bathed in physiologic buffer. Segments of D, B and U each exhibited inherent spontaneous contractility. CA rings were contracted with either arginine‐vasopressin or serotonin. Gemfibrozil immediately inhibited all these measures of contractility, beginning at concentrations as low as 500 ìmol/L for D, B and U, and 125 ìmol/L for precontracted CA rings. Such effects have not been reported previously. We conclude that gemfibrozil possesses direct smooth muscle relaxant properties. Mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain to be determined.