Evidence of non-synaptic regulation of postpartum uterine contractility in the rat.

Myometrial tissue rings from postpartum rats (24 h after delivery) were studied in vitro by electric field stimulation, and the alpha1/beta2-adrenoceptor ratio was determined by a radioligand binding technique. Pregnancy-denervated uterine rings were stimulated by long-duration pulses (100 ms). The contractions were inhibited by beta2-agonists (terbutaline and fenoterol) and alpha-antagonists (phentolamine, urapidil and yohimbine) in a concentration-dependent manner. Their effects were not altered by the adrenergic neuron-blocking agent bretylium. The alpha-antagonists (except phentolamine) elicited the same maximal inhibition as the beta2-agonists. Receptor assays revealed that the alpha1/beta2 ratio was about 2 in the measured uteri. It was concluded that the inhibitory effects of alpha-antagonists and beta2-agonists are mediated via non-synaptic adrenoceptors of the denervated postpartum rat uterus. The same inhibitory activity could be explained by the greater amount of alpha-receptors. It is believed that this is the first functional proof of the existence of non-synaptic alpha1-adrenoceptors in smooth muscle.