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Regulation of Human Umbilical Artery Contractility By Different Serotonin and Histamine Receptors

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Abstract

We studied the role of several serotonin (5-HT) and histamine receptors in the regulation of human umbilical artery (HUA) contractility. Among the 5-HT agonists used, only the 5-HT 2A and 5HT1B/D agonists contracts HUA. The 5-HT-induced contractions were fully inhibited by ketanserin (5-HT2A antagonist). The 5-HT 7-activation also relaxes and increases intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Among the histamine receptor agonists, only betahistine (H1 agonist) induced significant contractile effect. Histamine-induced contraction was partially relaxed by pyrilamine (H1 antagonist). Betahistine-induced contraction was partially blocked by dimaprit (H 2 agonist) and by the H3 agonist when a low concentration of forskolin is present. Both, H2 and H3 agonists increased the cAMP intracellular levels in HUA smooth muscle. These findings show that in HUA, 5-HT2A- and 5-HT1B/1D-activation lead to vasoconstriction and 5-HT7-activation induces vasorelaxation. Concerning histamine receptors, H1-activation induces contraction and H2- and H3-activation lead to vasorelaxation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CICS-Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal

    António José Santos-Silva MD, Elisa Cairrão MSc, Bruno Marques MSc & Ignacio Verde PhD

  2. Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira, Quinta do Alvito, Covilha, Portugal

    Elisa Cairrão MSc

Authors
  1. António José Santos-Silva MD
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  2. Elisa Cairrão MSc
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  3. Bruno Marques MSc
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  4. Ignacio Verde PhD
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Correspondence to Ignacio Verde PhD.

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Santos-Silva, A.J., Cairrão, E., Marques, B. et al. Regulation of Human Umbilical Artery Contractility By Different Serotonin and Histamine Receptors. Reprod. Sci. 16, 1175–1185 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719109343787

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719109343787

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