Long-term observations of spontaneous electrical activity of the uterine smooth muscle

Abstract

The spontaneous electrical activity of uterine smooth muscle was rather variable when acute observations were made. Therefore, a series of chronic experiments was performed with implanted electrodes to monitor a group of myometrial cells under different physiological conditions for periods up to eight weeks. The results showed that consistent behavior of myometrial cells could be observed provided similar hormonal status was maintained. Action potentials were rare or absent in myometrium of oophorectomized animals but were caused to appear by estrogen. In the pregnant uterus, action potentials increased both in amplitude and frequency of discharge as parturition approached, reached a peak at that time, and then declined in the postpartum days. The results indicated that in estrogen treatment and in parturition activities of myometrial cells were more synchronous. There was suggestive evidence that there were central impulses initiating activity in the pregnant uterus, and that the responses of the myometrium were affected by the local conditions.