PMID: 8458913Jan 1, 1993Paper

Changes in adrenergic receptors in the pregnant human uterine cervix following mifepristone or placebo treatment in the first trimester

Human Reproduction
L Kovács, G Falkay

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that the antiprogesterone mifepristone (RU-486) can dilate the cervix of pregnant women. The uterine and cervical smooth muscle contractile response to adrenergic agonists is regulated by the steroidal environment. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of treatment with RU-486 on the concentrations of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in cervical crude membranes from pregnant women using a radioligand binding assay. A special needle biopsy technique was used for human cervical specimens. The probable relative oestrogen dominance due to the antiprogesterone treatment selectively decreased the alpha-2 adrenoceptor in human cervix at an early stage of gestation. This finding was similar to that reported earlier in pregnant rabbits. The existence of a functionally distinct alpha-2 adrenergic receptor subtype will have important implications for our understanding of the contractile activity of the cervix.

Citations

May 1, 1994·Journal of Receptor Research·G FalkayL Kovács
May 20, 2009·European Journal of Pharmacology·Adrienn GálRóbert Gáspár

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Adrenergic Receptors: Trafficking

Adrenergic receptor trafficking is an active physiological process where adrenergic receptors are relocated from one region of the cell to another or from one type of cell to another. Discover the latest research on adrenergic receptor trafficking here.