Cocaine and beta-adrenergic receptor function in pregnant myometrium.
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the in vitro effect of cocaine on beta-adrenergic receptor function in pregnant human myometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Myometrium was obtained from 25 pregnant women at term who were undergoing cesarean section but who were not in labor. Membrane preparations were assayed for cyclic adenosine monophosphate production after exposure to isoproterenol, sodium fluoride, or forskolin in the presence and absence of either cocaine or benzoylecgonine, a major metabolite of cocaine. RESULTS: Cocaine inhibited isoproterenol-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in concentrations as low as 10(-8) mol/L but had no effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate production induced by sodium fluoride or forskolin. Benzoylecgonine (10(-4) mol/L) had no effect on isoproterenol-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate production. CONCLUSION: Cocaine is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist in human myometrium at concentrations as low as 10(-8) mol/L. This acute effect of cocaine may result in increased uterine contractility with adrenergic stimulation, potentially leading to increased uterine activity associated with acute cocaine use.
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Related Subject Headings
- Sodium Fluoride
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
- Pregnancy
- Osmolar Concentration
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Myometrium
- Isoproterenol
- In Vitro Techniques
- Humans
- Female
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Sodium Fluoride
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
- Pregnancy
- Osmolar Concentration
- Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
- Myometrium
- Isoproterenol
- In Vitro Techniques
- Humans
- Female