Effects of catecholamines on pregnant rat uterus

• Published in: Journal of autonomic pharmacology Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 97
• Main Authors: Boyle, F C, Digges, K G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-06-1982
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - pharmacology; Animals; Catecholamines - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epinephrine - pharmacology; Female; Isoproterenol - pharmacology; Norepinephrine - pharmacology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Adrenergic - drug effects; Uterine Contraction - drug effects; Uterus - drug effects
• ISSN: 0144-1795
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-8673.1982.tb00474.x

1 The effects of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (Adr) and isoprenaline (Iso) have been studied on pregnant rat uterus, at various stages of gestation--on the 10th and 20th days of pregnancy and on the first day post-partum. 2 The three catecholamines were inhibitory in all stages of gestation, with the same order of potency as observed in non-pregnant uteri (ie Iso greater than Adr greater than NA). However, mean pD2 values for the catecholamines tended to decrease as gestation progressed. 3 In 20 day pregnant and 1 day post-partum uteri, in the presence of propranolol, NA and Adr produced consistent alpha-adrenoreceptor mediated motor responses. 4 It is concluded that in the rat uterus, a form of pregnancy reversal occurs, in that there is a decrease in beta-adrenoreceptor responsiveness, and an increase in alpha-adrenoreceptor responsiveness towards the end of gestation, and immediately post-partum.