Mechanisms of drugs that affect uterine motility.

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Sultatos LG

Mechanisms of drugs that affect uterine motility.

J Nurse Midwifery. 1997 Jul-Aug;42(4):367-70. doi: 10.1016/s0091-2182(97)60134-2.

PubMed ID

9277068 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Modern obstetrics relies on a collection of drugs that affect the motility of the uterus either to stimulate or to suppress uterine contractions. Although a comprehensive, detailed understanding of how these drugs work does not yet exist, many, such as oxytocin, appear to work by altering cytosolic calcium levels in uterine smooth muscle cells. Other drugs, such as ritodrine, not only alter cytosolic calcium levels, but seem to inactivate myosin light chain kinase, a critical enzyme necessary for the initiation of uterine contractions. This report is intended to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding how these drugs affect the motility of the uterus. The delineation of the molecular mechanisms of action of these drugs is important because it provides the basis for their rational therapeutic use as well as for the design of new and better uterotrophic drugs.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Ritodrine	Myosin light chain kinase, smooth muscle	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Inhibitor	Details