Biomaterial Database

Dexamethasone partially protects the myometrium against beta-adrenergic agonist-induced desensitization in vivo in the rat. 1994

Z Herman-Gnjidic, and N J MacLusky, and S J Lye

Division of Perinatology, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to determine the ability of dexamethasone to prevent the onset of myometrial desensitization to beta-adrenergic agonists in vivo. METHODS On day 5 post partum chronically catheterized rats were randomized to receive either dexamethasone or corn oil (vehicle), followed 12 hours later by a continuous infusion of either isoproterenol or saline solution (vehicle). Uterine contractions were monitored throughout. We measured myometrial glucocorticoid receptor levels in chronically catheterized and sham-operated rats and beta 2-adrenergic receptor densities in the experimental rats before and during the infusions. RESULTS Surgery did not lead to any decrease in glucocorticoid receptor number. Dexamethasone significantly increased the duration of myometrial responsiveness to isoproterenol compared with vehicle-pretreated rats, although agonist-induced down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor number was not prevented. CONCLUSIONS Dexamethasone partially protects the rat myometrium from desensitization induced by the continuous infusion of beta-adrenergic agonists through mechanisms independent of the beta 2-receptor.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007545	Isoproterenol	Isopropyl analog of EPINEPHRINE; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant.	Isoprenaline,Isopropylarterenol,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-((1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Euspiran,Isadrin,Isadrine,Isopropyl Noradrenaline,Isopropylnoradrenaline,Isopropylnorepinephrine,Isoproterenol Hydrochloride,Isoproterenol Sulfate,Isuprel,Izadrin,Norisodrine,Novodrin,Hydrochloride, Isoproterenol,Noradrenaline, Isopropyl,Sulfate, Isoproterenol
D009215	Myometrium	The smooth muscle coat of the uterus, which forms the main mass of the organ.	Uterine Muscle,Muscle, Uterine,Muscles, Uterine,Uterine Muscles
D011943	Receptors, Adrenergic, beta	One of two major pharmacologically defined classes of adrenergic receptors. The beta adrenergic receptors play an important role in regulating CARDIAC MUSCLE contraction, SMOOTH MUSCLE relaxation, and GLYCOGENOLYSIS.	Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Adrenergic beta-Receptors,Receptors, beta-Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Receptor,beta-Adrenergic Receptor,beta-Adrenergic Receptors,Receptor, Adrenergic, beta,Adrenergic Receptor, beta,Adrenergic beta Receptor,Adrenergic beta Receptors,Receptor, beta Adrenergic,Receptor, beta-Adrenergic,Receptors, beta Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Receptors,beta-Receptor, Adrenergic,beta-Receptors, Adrenergic
D011965	Receptors, Glucocorticoid	Cytoplasmic proteins that specifically bind glucocorticoids and mediate their cellular effects. The glucocorticoid receptor-glucocorticoid complex acts in the nucleus to induce transcription of DNA. Glucocorticoids were named for their actions on blood glucose concentration, but they have equally important effects on protein and fat metabolism. Cortisol is the most important example.	Corticoid Type II Receptor,Glucocorticoid Receptors,Glucocorticoids Receptor,Corticoid II Receptor,Corticoid Type II Receptors,Glucocorticoid Receptor,Receptors, Corticoid II,Receptors, Corticoid Type II,Receptors, Glucocorticoids,Corticoid II Receptors,Glucocorticoids Receptors,Receptor, Corticoid II,Receptor, Glucocorticoid,Receptor, Glucocorticoids
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D005260	Female		Females
D000318	Adrenergic beta-Agonists	Drugs that selectively bind to and activate beta-adrenergic receptors.	Adrenergic beta-Receptor Agonists,beta-Adrenergic Agonists,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists,Adrenergic beta-Agonist,Adrenergic beta-Receptor Agonist,Betamimetics,Receptor Agonists, beta-Adrenergic,Receptors Agonists, Adrenergic beta,beta-Adrenergic Agonist,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist,Adrenergic beta Agonist,Adrenergic beta Agonists,Adrenergic beta Receptor Agonist,Adrenergic beta Receptor Agonists,Agonist, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Agonist, beta-Adrenergic,Agonist, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Agonists, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Agonists, beta-Adrenergic,Agonists, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Receptor Agonist, beta-Adrenergic,Receptor Agonists, beta Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Agonist,beta Adrenergic Agonists,beta Adrenergic Receptor Agonist,beta Adrenergic Receptor Agonists,beta-Agonist, Adrenergic,beta-Agonists, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Agonist, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Agonists, Adrenergic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014590	Uterine Contraction	Contraction of the UTERINE MUSCLE.	Myometrial Contraction,Contraction, Myometrial,Contraction, Uterine,Contractions, Myometrial,Contractions, Uterine,Myometrial Contractions,Uterine Contractions
D015536	Down-Regulation	A negative regulatory effect on physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, or systemic level. At the molecular level, the major regulatory sites include membrane receptors, genes (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION), mRNAs (RNA, MESSENGER), and proteins.	Receptor Down-Regulation,Down-Regulation (Physiology),Downregulation,Down Regulation,Down-Regulation, Receptor