Abstract
Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and the enzymes necessary for its synthesis and degradation have been shown to be present in most mammalian cells, including myometrial cells. Cyclic AMP is considered to be the “second messenger” responsible for mediating the actions of numerous drugs and hormones, and such a role has been suggested for this cyclic nucleotide in the uterine relaxant effects of β-adrenoceptor agonists such as isoproterenol and epinephrine. Some of the evidence for and against a role for cAMP as a mediator of the uterine relaxant effects of β agonists is discussed in the following sections. By way of background, brief descriptions of the roles of adrenergic receptors in control of uterine motility and the effects of estrogen and progesterone on these responses are included. The factors involved in coupling adrenergic receptors to the cAMP system are also discussed.
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Diamond, J. (1990). β-Adrenoceptors Cyclic AMP, and Cyclic GMP in Control of Uterine Motility. In: Carsten, M.E., Miller, J.D. (eds) Uterine Function. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0575-0_8
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