Pregnancy is associated with reduced peripheral vascular resistance, underpinned by changes in endothelial and smooth muscle function. Failure of the maternal vasculature to adapt correctly leads to serious pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia. The peptide hormone relaxin regulates the maternal renal vasculature during pregnancy; however, little is known about its effects in other vasc...

At present, the most widespread method of monitoring of uterine contractions activity during pregnancy and labour is the external tocography. This mechanical method, however, has limited value resulting from its low accuracy and sensibility. Recent progress in new techniques of perinatal monitoring requires more precise method of monitoring uterine activity. The most promising seems to be the e...

Several species of Prangos are traditionally used as emollient, carminative, tonic, anti-flatulent, anthelmintic and anti-thrombotic agents. Osthole, a coumarin isolated from Prangos, are believed to be responsible for some of its effects. In this research, relaxant effects of Prangos ferulacea extract and osthole on rat uterus contraction induced by KCl, acetylcholine (ACh), oxytocin and elect...

The effects of varying the sodium gradient-either by lowering [Na+]o or by increasing [Na+]i on the electromechanical properties of pregnant rat uterine smooth muscle were studied. In normal tissues, complete removal of external sodium ions (choline, Tris or sucrose as substitutes) induced a strong and maintained contraction which was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium ions, and...