Oxytocic effect of lignocaine and its recently synthesized analogues.

Local anaesthetics as a group possess spasmolytic effect on the smooth muscles (2). Uterine muscle though basically a smooth muscle organ, differs from other smooth muscle organs in many respects. Physiologically it is more under the control of sex hormones than the autonomic nervous system. There exists wide species variation in the responses to autonomic nervous stimulation. Pharmacologically the response of uterine muscle to drugs is independent of its innervation and varies markedly according to the menstrual or oestrous cycle, stage of gestation or pregnancy and the species of animals.