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Interaction of prostaglandin E 1 and calcium in the guinea‐pig myometrium
Author(s) -
EAGLING ELIZABETH M.,
LOVELL H. G.,
PICKLES V. R.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb07287.x
Subject(s) - myometrium , guinea pig , calcium , prostaglandin , chemistry , endocrinology , medicine , biology , uterus
Summary1 Prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) increased the responses of guinea‐pig myometrium in a low calcium medium to added Ca 2+ , acetylcholine, vasopressin, Ba 2+ and Sr 2+ . The concentration of PGE 1 used (50 pg/ml) was clearly below the threshold for direct spasmogenesis. In the presence of PGE 1 the doses necessary for half‐maximal contractions were decreased by factors of 2·6 for Ca 2+ , 2·4 for acetylcholine, and 3·7 for vasopressin. The responses to Ba 2+ or Sr 2+ , though studied less extensively, were found to be affected in much the same manner. 2 The K + depolarized myometrium in a low Ca 2+ medium contracts in response to added Ca 2+ . These responses also were increased by low concentrations of PGE 1 , but the effective concentration of PGE 1 was indistinguishable from that for direct spasmogenesis. 3 Possible mechanisms for the interaction of PGE 1 and Ca 2+ in the myometrium are discussed. It is tentatively suggested that these findings may be relevant to the physiological control of human myometrium.