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Opioid mediated activity and expression of mu and delta opioid receptors in isolated human term non-laboring myometrium
Date Issued
2013-01-05
Date Available
2013-03-28T15:02:35Z
Abstract
The existence of opioid receptors in mammalian myometrial tissue is now widely accepted. Previously enkephalin degrading enzymes have been shown to be elevated in pregnant rat uterus and a met-enkephalin analogue has been shown to alter spontaneous contractility of rat myometrium. Here we have undertaken studies to determine the effects of met-enkephalin on in vitro human myometrial contractility and investigate the expression of opioid receptors in pregnant myometrium. Myometrial biopsies were taken from women undergoing elective caesarean delivery at term. Organ bath experiments were used to investigate the effect of the met-enkephalin analogue [d-Ala 2, d-met 5] enkephalin (DAMEA) on spontaneous contractility. A confocal immunofluorescent technique and real time PCR were used to determine the expression of protein and mRNA, respectively for two opioid receptor subtypes, mu and delta. DAMEA had a concentration dependent inhibitory effect on contractile activity (1×10−7 M–1×10−4 M; 54% reduction in contractile activity, P<0.001 at 1×10−4 M concentration). Mu and delta opioid receptor protein sub-types and their respective mRNA were identified in all tissues sampled. This is the first report of opioid receptor expression and of an opioid mediated uterorelaxant action in term human non-labouring myometrium in vitro
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
European Journal of Pharmacology
Volume
698
Issue
1-3
Start Page
170
End Page
177
Copyright (Published Version)
2012 Elsevier B.V.
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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