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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 68/3/937    most recent biolreprod.102.008367v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dallot, E. Articles by Breuiller-Fouché, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dallot, E. Articles by Breuiller-Fouché, M. Agricola Articles by Dallot, E. Articles by Breuiller-Fouché, M.

Contraction of Cultured Human Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells after Stimulation with Endothelin-1

^a INSERM U 361, Université René Descartes, Pavillon Baudelocque, 75014 Paris, France ^b Service of Microcinema (Department of Scientific Information and Communications), INSERM, 78110 Le Vésinet, France ^c Maternité Port-Royal, Hopital Cochin, AP-HP, Université René Descartes, 75014 Paris, France

To our knowledge, the problem of how to maintain isolated smooth cells in a "contractile" phenotypic state without deviation after subculturing has yet to be resolved. The present study characterized the in vitro contractile response of human uterine smooth muscle cell to endothelin-1, which induces contractions in isolated uterine strips. Contractile effects were qualitatively investigated using silicone rubber substrata. Endothelin-1 was able to distort and reduce the wrinkles in the silicone surface. Contractions were also quantified by measuring the resulting change in the collagen lattice area. Endothelin-1 significantly increased the contractile response in a dose-dependent manner by selectively activating endothelin A receptors. When myometrial cells were cultured within collagen lattices, a microfilament-disrupting agent, cytochalasin B, abolished contractions, and no change was observed in smooth muscle -actin immunostaining. Taken together, these observations show that the uterine smooth muscle cells are contractile and respond appropriately to a potent uterotonic agent. Based on these findings, a cultured uterine smooth muscle cell model, which could be used to elucidate the mechanisms controlling uterine activity, is proposed.

¹ Correspondence: Michelle Breuiller-Fouché, INSERM U 361, Pavillon Baudelocque, 123, bld de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France. FAX: 33 1 43 26 44 08; e-mail: breuiller-fouche{at}cochin.inserm.fr

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