Open AccessEndothelin—a potent constrictor of small myometrial arteries of term pregnant women
Author(s) -
Lindblom Bo,
Lundberg Jan M.,
Lunell NilsOlov,
Nisell Henry,
Norén Hakan,
Wolff Kerstin
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349109007870
Subject(s) - medicine , vasoconstriction , in utero , endothelin receptor , myometrium , endothelin 1 , uterus , vasoconstrictor agents , blood vessel , endocrinology , vasodilation , blood flow , anatomy , pregnancy , fetus , receptor , biology , genetics
This study was performed to evaluate the in vitro effects of a new polypeptide, endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) on small intramyometrial vessels in comparison with the action of noradrenalin (NA). In connection with cesarean section, myometrial biopsies were obtained and small arteries (100–500 um in diameter) were excised. Cylindrical segments of these vessels were used for registration of contractile activity after administration of ET‐1 and NA. ET produced vasoconstriction and was approximately three times as powerful and 70‐fold as potent as NA. It is suggested that ET may be involved in the regulation of human utero‐placental blood flow.