Skip to main content
Log in

Relaxant effect of dopamine on the isolated rat uterus

  • Published:
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effect of dopamine was studied on the isolated uterus of diethylstilboestrol-treated rats. Dopamine, at concentrations (107–10−4 M) produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in the K+-depolarized rat uterus. On a molar basis, dopamine was about 500 times less potent than adrenaline in relaxing the uterus, the maximum degree of relaxation obtained with both drugs was the same. Pretreatment of the rats with reserpine (5 mg/kg) did not produce any modification of the dose-response curve to dopamine. Similarly, cocaine (3 × 10−6 M) failed to modify the relaxant effect of dopamine. The dopamine induced relaxation was inhibited by propranolol (10−9–10−7 M) in a dose-dependent manner. Prazosin (10−7 M), SCH 23390 (10−7 M) and sulpiride (10−7 M) did not affect the dopamine dose-response curve. In the isolated rat uterus which was not preconstricted by KCl neither dopamine nor adrenaline produced any effect when added to the organ bath. This lack of response to both catecholamines was present even in tissues pretreated with propranolol or sulpiride. It is concluded that dopamine produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the uterus from diethylstilboestrol-treated rats by direct activation of beta-adrenoceptors. There was no evidence for indirect action (catecholamine release and neuronal uptake mechanisms) and specific dopamine receptor mediated relaxation and alpha-adrenoceptor mediated contractions have not been found in this preparation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Advenier C, Saint-Aubin A, Mallard B, Boissier JR (1980) Bronchopulmonary effects of dopamine in the guinea-pig. Arch Int Pharmacodyn 243:261–274

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar MJ, Morales-Olivas FJ, Rubio E (1986) Pharmacological investigation into the effects of histamine and histamine analogues on guinea-pig and rat colon in vitro. Br J Pharmacol 88:501–506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arunlakshana O, Schild HO (1959) Some quantitative uses of drug antagonists. Br J Pharmacol Chemother 14:48–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogaert MG, Buylaert WA, Lefebvre RA, Willems JL (1984) Peripheral dopamine receptors. In: Poste G, Crooke ST (eds) Dopamine receptor agonists. Plenum Press, New York London, pp 139–155

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Borda E, Agostini MC, Sterin-Borda L, Gimeno MF, Gimeno AL (1981) Inhibitory effects of some catecholamines on contractions of uterine strips isolated from estrous and spayed rats. Influence of endogenous and exogenous prostaglandins on the action of methoxamine. Eur J Pharmacol 69:55–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle FC, Digges KG (1982) Response to catecholamines of the rat isolated uterus throughout the natural oestrous cycle. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 321:56–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng HC, Woodward JK (1984) Mouse uterine muscle as a model for studying beta-2 adrenoceptors mediated relaxation. J Anton Pharmacol 4:17–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chow EHM, Marshall JM (1981) Effects of catecholamines on circular and longitudinal uterine muscle of the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 76:157–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cortijo J, Esplugues J, Morcillo E, Perpiña M (1984a) Pharmacological analysis of the responsiveness of guinea-pig lung parenchymal strip to dopamine. Br J Pharmacol 83:161–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cortijo J, Esplugues J, Morales-Olivas FJ, Rubio E (1984b) The inhibitory effect of histamine on the motility of rat uterus in vivo. Eur J Pharmacol 97:7–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Digges KG (1982) Adrenoceptors in uterus. J Anton Pharmacol 2:53–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estañ L, Morales-Olivas FJ, Rubio E, Esplugues J (1985) Effect of methoxamine on spontaneous motility of the isolated rat uterus. Gynecol Obstet Invest 19:53–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golberg LI (1972) Cardiovascular and renal actions of dopamine: potential clinical applications. Pharmacol Rev 24:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Golberg LI, Voldman PH, Kohli JD (1978) A comparison of the vascular dopamine receptors with other dopamine receptors. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 18:57–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley M, Pennefather JN (1981) The response of the costo-uterine muscle of the rat to adrenoceptor agonists during the oestrous cycle: a comparison with the uterine horn. J Auton Pharmacol 1:133–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hilditch A, Drew GM, Naylor RJ (1984) SCH 23390 is a very potent and selective antagonist at vascular dopamine receptors. Eur J Pharmacol 97:333–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imbs JL, Schmidt M, Schwartz J (1983) Caractéristiques pharmacologiques des recepteurs dopaminergiques rénaux: perspectives therapeutiques. J Pharmacol 14:5–27

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koga Y, Downes H, Taylor SM (1980) Direct and indirect actions of dopamine on tracheal smooth muscle. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 315:15–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lackovic Z, Kleinman J, Karoun F, Ineff NH (1981) Dopamine and its metabolites in human peripheral nerves: is there a widely distributed system of peripheral nerves? Life Sci 29:917–922

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lokhandwala MF, Barrett RJ (1982) Cardiovascular dopamine receptors: Physiological, pharmacological and therapeutic implications. J Auton Pharmacol 3:189–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumley P, Broadley KJ (1977) Evidence from agonist and antagonist studies to suggest that the beta-1 adrenoceptors subserving the positive inotropic and chronotropic response of the heart do not belong to two separate subgroups. J Pharm Pharmacol 29:598–604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Mir I, Morales-Olivas FJ, Rubio E (1987) The lack of the effect of DA-1 and DA-2 dopamine agonists on the isolated guinea-pig atria. J Anton Pharmacol 7:111–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mugelli A, Ledda F, Mantelli L, Torrini M, Maccioni T (1977) Studies of the positive effect of the dopamine in the guinea-pig heart. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 301:49–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O'Donnell SR, Persson CGA, Wanstall JC (1978) An in vitro comparison of beta adrenoceptor stimulants on potassium-depolarized uterine preparations from guinea-pigs. Br J Pharmacol 62:227–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubio E, Morales-Olivas FJ, Morcillo E, Esplugues J (1982) Indirect sympathomimetic effect of some H2-histamine receptor antagonists in the isolated uterus of the rat. J Pharm Pharmacol 34:740–741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruffolo RR, Messick K, Horng JJ (1984) Interactions of three inotropic agents, ASL-7022, dobutamine and dopamine, with alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in vitro. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 326:317–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simon A, Maanen EF (1971) Apomorphine and phentolamine antagonism of dopamine and norepinephrine. Fed Proc 30:624

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon A, Maanen EF (1976) Dopamine receptors and dopaminergic nerves in the vas deferens of the rat. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 222:4–15

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner J, Schumann HJ, Knorr A, Rohm N, Reidemeister JC (1980) Stimulation by adrenaline and dopamine but not by noradrenaline of myocardial alpha-adrenoceptor mediating positive inotropic effects in human atrial preparations. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 312:99–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Send offprint requests to F. J. Morales-Olivas at the above address

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Estañ, L., Martinez-Mir, I., Rubio, E. et al. Relaxant effect of dopamine on the isolated rat uterus. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 338, 484–488 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179318

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179318

Key words

Navigation