Endothelin induces two types of contractions of rat uterus: phasic contractions by way of voltage-dependent calcium channels and developing contractions through a second type of calcium channels
Effects of endothelin on nonvascular smooth muscle have been examined using rat uterine horns and two modes of endothelin action have been revealed. Endothelin (0.3 nM) caused rhythmic contractions of isolated uterus in the presence of extracellular calcium. The rhythmic contractions were completely inhibited by calcium channel antagonists. These characteristics of endothelin-induced contractions were very similar to those induced by oxytocin. Binding assays using /sup 125/I-endothelin showed that endothelin and the calcium channel blockers did not compete for the binding sites. However, endothelin was unique in that it caused, in addition to rhythmic contractions, a slowly developing monophasic contraction that was insensitive to calcium channel blockers. This developing contraction became dominant at higher concentrations of endothelin and was also calcium dependent.
- Research Organization:
- Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan)
- OSTI ID:
- 6075967
- Journal Information:
- Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States), Vol. 159:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PEPTIDES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
UTERUS
CONTRACTION
CALCIUM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENZYME INHIBITORS
IODINE 125
MUSCLES
OXYTOCIN
PORINS
RATS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
FEMALE GENITALS
HORMONES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
METALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques