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The Physiological Basis of Uterine Contractility: A Short Review
Author(s) -
Wray S.,
Kupittayanant S.,
Shmygol A.,
Smith R. D.,
Burdyga T.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/eph8602114
Subject(s) - contractility , contraction (grammar) , endoplasmic reticulum , uterine contraction , muscle contraction , neuroscience , calcium , extracellular , myometrium , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , uterus
In this review we discuss our current understanding of the cellular basis of uterine contractility, highlighting those areas requiring further study. It is clear that the basic processes of excitation‐contraction coupling lie within the myometrial cell, and that these may be modified by agonists. Pacemaker acitivity, however, remains a mystery. The contribution of extracellular calcium entry to contraction is shown to be vital, whilst the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum remains controversial. Much current experimental focus is on pathways controlling and regulating contraction, and we discuss sensitisation mechanisms and question their role in intact uterine preparations.