Biomaterial Database

Pregnancy enhances G protein activation and nitric oxide release from uterine arteries. 2001

L P Thompson, and C P Weiner

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.

We hypothesized that pregnancy modulates receptor-mediated responses of the uterine artery (UA) by altering G protein activation or coupling. Relaxation and contraction to NaF (0.5-11.5 mM), acetylcholine (10(-9)-10(-5) M), and bradykinin (10(-12)-3 x 10(-5) M) were measured in isolated UA of pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs. Responses were measured in the presence and absence of either cholera toxin (2 microg/ml) or pertussis toxin (Galpha(s) and Galpha(i) inhibitors, respectively). NaF relaxation was endothelium dependent and nitro-L-arginine sensitive (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). Relaxation to NaF, acetylcholine, and bradykinin were potentiated by pregnancy. Cholera but not pertussis toxin increased relaxation to acetylcholine and bradykinin in UA from nonpregnant animals, had no effect in UA from pregnant animals, and abolished the pregnancy-induced differences in acetylcholine relaxation. Cholera toxin potentiated the bradykinin-induced contraction of UA of both pregnant and nonpregnant animals, whereas pertussis toxin inhibited contraction of UA from pregnant animals only. Therefore, pregnancy may enhance agonist-stimulated endothelium-dependent relaxation and bradykinin-induced contraction of UA by inhibiting GTPase activity or enhancing Galpha(s) but not Galpha(i) activation in pregnant animals. Thus the diverse effects of pregnancy on UA responsiveness may result from hormonal modulation of G proteins coupled to their specific receptors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008469	Meclofenamic Acid	A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with antipyretic and antigranulation activities. It also inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis.	Benzoic acid, 2-((2,6-dichloro-3-methylphenyl)amino)-, monosodium salt, monohydrate,Meclofenamate,Meclofenamate Sodium,Meclofenamate Sodium Anhydrous,Meclofenamate Sodium Monohydrate,Meclomen,Sodium Meclofenamate,Meclofenamate, Sodium
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D010566	Virulence Factors, Bordetella	A set of BACTERIAL ADHESINS and TOXINS, BIOLOGICAL produced by BORDETELLA organisms that determine the pathogenesis of BORDETELLA INFECTIONS, such as WHOOPING COUGH. They include filamentous hemagglutinin; FIMBRIAE PROTEINS; pertactin; PERTUSSIS TOXIN; ADENYLATE CYCLASE TOXIN; dermonecrotic toxin; tracheal cytotoxin; Bordetella LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES; and tracheal colonization factor.	Bordetella Virulence Factors,Agglutinogen 2, Bordetella Pertussis,Bordetella Virulence Determinant,LFP-Hemagglutinin,LP-HA,Leukocytosis-Promoting Factor Hemagglutinin,Lymphocytosis-Promoting Factor-Hemagglutinin,Pertussis Agglutinins,Agglutinins, Pertussis,Determinant, Bordetella Virulence,Factor Hemagglutinin, Leukocytosis-Promoting,Factor-Hemagglutinin, Lymphocytosis-Promoting,Factors, Bordetella Virulence,Hemagglutinin, Leukocytosis-Promoting Factor,LFP Hemagglutinin,LP HA,Leukocytosis Promoting Factor Hemagglutinin,Lymphocytosis Promoting Factor Hemagglutinin,Virulence Determinant, Bordetella
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011270	Pregnancy, Animal	The process of bearing developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero in non-human mammals, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Animal Pregnancies,Animal Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Animal
D001920	Bradykinin	A nonapeptide messenger that is enzymatically produced from KALLIDIN in the blood where it is a potent but short-lived agent of arteriolar dilation and increased capillary permeability. Bradykinin is also released from MAST CELLS during asthma attacks, from gut walls as a gastrointestinal vasodilator, from damaged tissues as a pain signal, and may be a neurotransmitter.	Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg,Bradykinin Acetate, (9-D-Arg)-Isomer,Bradykinin Diacetate,Bradykinin Hydrochloride,Bradykinin Triacetate,Bradykinin, (1-D-Arg)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro-3-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (2-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (3-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (3-D-Pro-7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (5-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (5-D-Phe-8-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (6-D-Ser)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (7-D-Pro)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (8-D-Phe)-Isomer,Bradykinin, (9-D-Arg)-Isomer,Arg Pro Pro Gly Phe Ser Pro Phe Arg
D002772	Cholera Toxin	An ENTEROTOXIN from VIBRIO CHOLERAE. It consists of two major protomers, the heavy (H) or A subunit and the B protomer which consists of 5 light (L) or B subunits. The catalytic A subunit is proteolytically cleaved into fragments A1 and A2. The A1 fragment is a MONO(ADP-RIBOSE) TRANSFERASE. The B protomer binds cholera toxin to intestinal epithelial cells and facilitates the uptake of the A1 fragment. The A1 catalyzed transfer of ADP-RIBOSE to the alpha subunits of heterotrimeric G PROTEINS activates the production of CYCLIC AMP. Increased levels of cyclic AMP are thought to modulate release of fluid and electrolytes from intestinal crypt cells.	Cholera Toxin A,Cholera Toxin B,Cholera Toxin Protomer A,Cholera Toxin Protomer B,Cholera Toxin Subunit A,Cholera Toxin Subunit B,Choleragen,Choleragenoid,Cholera Enterotoxin CT,Cholera Exotoxin,Cholera Toxin A Subunit,Cholera Toxin B Subunit,Procholeragenoid,Enterotoxin CT, Cholera,Exotoxin, Cholera,Toxin A, Cholera,Toxin B, Cholera,Toxin, Cholera
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D004791	Enzyme Inhibitors	Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction.	Enzyme Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Enzyme,Inhibitors, Enzyme
D005260	Female		Females