Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recordings of intratubal pressure in women reveal a complex pattern of tubal contractions. Overall activity of the fallopian tube is increased during ovulation. During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, activity is depressed but never suppressed. The fallopian tube remains active during gestation in contrast with the uterus which is quiescent. The early puerperal tube displays a pattern of activity similar to that recorded during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Activation occurs during suckling and in response to exogenous oxytocin, prostaglandins, nor-adrenergic compounds, and ergot derivatives. It is concluded that contractility of the fallopian tube is less influenced by ovarian steroids than that of the uterus.
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PMID:Contractility of the fallopian tube. 17 Jan 70

Contractile elements are found in the ovaries of many species, but it has not been possible to ascertain whether these elements are of importance in the process of ovulation. In this report, we describe changes in intraovarian pressure recorded continuously in vivo in unanesthetized rabbits under normal conditions and under the influence of intravenously injected human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), as well as following the ovulatory stimulus of normal copulation. The recordings were made by means of small latex balloons (0.02- to 0.04-ml volume) attached to indwelling catheters, inserted into the ovarian stroma, and secured with 6-0 nylon sutures. All 24 rabbits studied showed changes in intraovarian pressure indicative of ovarian contractile activity. The intraovarian pressure changes followed a characteristic pattern which was different from the changes in intratubal pressure, recorded simultaneously from the lumen of the ipsilateral fallopian tube, indicating that the contractions of both organs occurred independently. In normal animals, before an ovulatory stimulus was applied, the ovarian contractility pattern consisted of a series of rapid contractions (average amplitude, 6 mm Hg; average frequency; 8 per minute) occurring with intervals of quiescence lasting from 11 to 36 minutes. The base line tonus was frequently elevated during these series of contractions. Mating or an injection of hCG had no immediate effect on intraovarian pressure but, 6 to 8 hours after the stimulus was applied, ovarian contractile activity increased significantly in all rabbits. This enhanced activity persisted for several hours before returning to initial levels approximately 15 to 18 hours after mating or the hCG injection. This demonstration of increased contractile activity about the time of ovulation suggests that ovarian contractions participate in the process of follicular rupture and the extrusion of ova at ovulation. Prostaglandin F2alpha, norepinephrine, and oxytocin were effective in inducing ovarian contractions.
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PMID:Intraovarian pressure changes during ovulation in rabbits. 94 31

A 30-year old primigravida with a history of drug addiction came to the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark for prenatal care at 15 weeks gestation. Physicians did an amniocentesis because of family history of trisomy 21. Ultrasound examinations in the 17th and 18th weeks of gestation indicated a living fetus with the placenta on the right lateral wall of the uterus, but there was an insufficient amount of amniotic fluid. Maternal alpha fetoprotein serum levels were extremely high (298 kIU/L). Physicians predicted a poor fetal prognosis and advised the woman to undergo an abortion. On the first day, they inserted 4 vaginal pessaries of 1 mg gemeprost and administered 25-30 mg bupivacain through an epidural catheter to control abdominal pain. 8 hours after first insertion, they began intravenous (IV) administration of oxytocin. Her cervix remain closed and uterine tension did not increase. 2 hours after beginning the oxytocin IV, she suffered from an abrupt severe abdominal pain which was transferred to the right shoulder. Heart rate and blood pressure remained normal. 4 hours later, her body temperature rose, so she received 500 m pivampicillin 3 times/day. She experienced no vaginal bleeding and no uterine contractions. Her cervix had still no opened. On the third day, health workers inserted 5 more pessaries. On the fourth day, they administered 75 ml isotonic saline/hour transcervically, but she still did not abort. Her temperature vacillated even though she received antibiotics and the pain continued despite epidural analgesics. On day 5, health workers administered 3.75 mcg prostaglandin F2 alpha/minute transcervically. After 6 hours of no progress, they performed a laparotomy and observed a macerated, malodorous fetus in the peritoneal cavity which continued 1200 ml of blood. The medial part of the left fallopian tube an the left uterine corner had ruptured. They removed the fetus via wedge resection; it had no malformations. Physicians should consider ectopic pregnancy when attempts at induced abortion do not succeed.
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PMID:Misdiagnosis of interstitial pregnancy followed by uterine cornual rupture during induced midtrimester abortion. 132 30

More than 20 years following the recognition of a possible role for eicosanoids in ovarian function a physiological role for prostaglandins and/or leukotrienes in human ovulation, corpus luteum function and tubal motility remains to be demonstrated. With respect to ovarian function, the well-characterized preovulatory rise in eicosanoid production in animal species and humans, in conjunction with the large body of experimental evidence employing inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis and replacement of individual prostaglandins, has provided strong evidence for a role in follicular rupture independent of other LH-mediated ovulatory events. The possible mechanism of prostaglandin-induced follicle rupture may involve stimulation of proteolytic activity via substances such as plasmin and PA; however, this is controversial. A role for prostaglandins in ovarian luteal function is well established in laboratory animals and large ruminant species, where PGF2 alpha derived from the uterus has been demonstrated to be the luteolytic factor. In humans, luteal function may be influenced by local intraovarian eicosanoid production, which has been suggested to involve the paracrine interaction of local ovarian hormones such as oxytocin, noradrenaline, insulin and IGFs, to name but a few. Several lines of evidence have also implicated prostaglandins as an aetiological factor in ovarian pathological states such as seen in the OHSS. However, the bulk of clinical experimental evidence to date has failed to support this contention. Prostaglandin production has likewise been well characterized in the fallopian tube in both humans and animal species. Whereas a role for prostaglandins in tubal transport has been demonstrated with animal species such as the rabbit, several studies have failed to define a similar function in humans. More recently, direct injections of prostaglandin analogues into the fallopian tube and the corpus luteum have been shown to be efficacious as a treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Whether the primary mechanism of action involves effects on tubal musculature or corpus luteum function, or is simply a local vascular effect, remains to be demonstrated. Therefore, although the physiological role for eicosanoids in ovarian and tubal function remains unclear, particularly in the human, an increasing body of recent evidence has suggested an important paracrine function for this class of cellular mediators whose interaction with other more recently characterized local ovarian factors has only begun to be recognized.
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PMID:Prostaglandins in the ovary and fallopian tube. 147 96

It is considered that the physiology of the human fallopian tube may be dependent on endocrine factors, especially their changes during the menstrual cycle in the fractionated fallopian tissues. In the present study, the dynamics of sex steroids (estradiol, E and progesterone, P), prostaglandins (PGs) and oxytocin (OT) binding to each receptor (R) in the ampullary and isthmic regions were analyzed simultaneously throughout the menstrual cycle. The number of binding sites (NBS) for nuclear ER (ERN) levels was always greater in the ampulla than in the isthmus, while that for nuclear PR (PRN) was almost the same. The NBS of both E-, and PRN reached the highest levels during the late proliferative to ovulatory phase. The NBS of both PGE2-, and PGF2 alpha-R in the isthmus was greater than that in the ampulla and highest during the secretory phase. Conversely, the tissue concentration of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the ampulla changed to that in the isthmus around the ovulatory phase. The OT-R showed the highest levels during the secretory phase in the isthmus, but showed little change in the ampulla throughout the menstrual cycle. It increased markedly in the isthmus but decreased in the ampulla. The present data suggest that the receptor concentrations in the human fallopian tube fluctuate in correlation with its physiological and histological status. It may, therefore, be concluded that the hormone-receptor interaction in this anatomical unit is closely involved in the reproductive functions of the human fallopian tube.
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PMID:[Cyclic changes in sex steroids, prostaglandins and oxytocin receptors of normal fallopian tube throughout the menstrual cycle]. 284 28

The effects of oxytocin, administered by either rapid or slow iv injection, on fallopian tube contractility were studies. Single iv doses were shown to consistently induce several contractions with a mean intensity of 10 mm Hg and hypertonia of varying duration. The oxytocin-induced bursts were synchronous in both tubes while normal spontaneous contractions are asynchronous. The tubes showed a high sensitivity to even small doses of oxytocin. The minimum does (threshold dose) of oxytocin eliciting tubal response in the patients was 250 mU. The intensity and duration of oxytocin-induced contractions were dose-dependent with the maximal responses obtained with oxytocin doses of 5 IU or less. The highest sensitivity was during the proliferative stage of the ovarian cycle. Continuous iv infusions of oxytocin ranging from 20 to 40 mU/minute increased tubal activity during administration. It was determined that the sensitivity of the human fallopian tube to oxytocin was higher than that of the nongravid uterus and lower than that of the mammary gland during lactation.
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PMID:Effect of oxytocin on the contractility of the human oviduct in vivo. 442 8

A review of early research (up through 1970) on prostaglandins (PGs) is presented. Their chemical structure and classification based on their ring-structure is detailed as well as various analytic methods of mammalian tissues and body fluids. For clinical use PGE1 and 2, PGF2alpha and PGA1 are the most significant ones because of their properties. PGs have many physiological activities encompassing many organ systems. Their pharmacological actions include: 1) stimulation of nonvascular smooth muscle; 2) peripheral vasodilation (excluding PGFs which cause vasoconstriction); 3) inhibition of lipolysis; 4) inhibition of platelet aggregation; 5) inhibition of gastric peristalsis and gastric juice secretion; 6) bronchodilation; and 7) inhibition of spontaneous CNS activity. The level of PGEs in semen is closely related to the degree of fertility; normally fertile men have 55 mcg PGE/ml and never less than 11 mcg/ml. Current studies are under way on the effect of PGE in artificial insemination of sperm of subfertile men. PGF2alpha and PGE2 stimulate menstruation and uterine contraction; other PGs inhibit uterine contraction. PGs from semen have a role in sperm transport and possibly act on fallopian tube motility aiding sperm capacitation, and ovum retention and transport. Early trials with PGs point to a possible action as an abortifacient, as a once-a-month contraceptive, or a postconception contraceptive agent. PGF2alpha is found in variable concentrations in maternal blood during contraction of the pregnant uterus; levels increase as labor progresses. PGs have been used for labor induction, for induction of abortion and in mole pregnancy. Given as a constant intravenous infusion they produce regular contractions leading to natural expulsion of the fetus and causing very few side effects in the woman with no adverse effects on the fetus. PGs' action compares favorably with that of oxytocin and is preferable for labor induction in certain pregnancy complications. PGE1 and 2 have a stronger effect than PGF2alpha, hence can be used in smaller dosage and cause fewer adverse effects.
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PMID:[Prostaglandins in gynecology and obstetrics]. 505 16