The In Vitro Study of Resveratrol on Uterine Contraction and Ca2+ Mobilization in the Rat.

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is directly related to elevated PGF2alpha levels. It is treated with NSAIDs (nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs) in Western medicine. Since NSAIDs produce many side effects, Chinese medicinal therapy is considered as a feasible alternative medicine. Many special physiological components (ex: Resveratrol) in Chinese medicine have been isolated and identified. Resveratrol have a lot of physiological functions like anti-oxidation and anti-cancer effects. However, the relationship between uterine smooth muscle contraction and resveratrol remains veiled. We studied the in vitro effects of resveratrol on uterine smooth muscle contraction. The uterus was separated from female SD rat and uterine smooth muscle contraction activity was measured and recorded. Resveratrol inhibited uterine contractions induced by PGF2alpha, Ca2+ channel activator Bay K 8644, and high K+ in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro; furthermore, resveratrol inhibited the Ca2+-dependent uterine contractions. Thus, resveratrol consistently suppressed the increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) induced by PGF2alpha and high K+. Thus, resveratrol probably inhibited uterine contraction by blocking external Ca2+ influx, leading to a decrease in [Ca2+]i. Thus, resveratrol may be considered as a feasible alternative therapeutic agent for dysmenorrhea. (poster)