Animal Models in Myometrial Activity Research: Morphofunctional Features, Role of Oxytocin

Abstract

One of the main functions of the reproductive system is providing the physiological process, which occurs by caudal spread of excitability of smooth muscle tissue and ensures delivery of the fetus. The results of this work confirm the importance of blood supply in automatism of the ovarian horn areas, which are the leading regions in propagation of electrical waves and coordination of other rhythmogenic loci. Morphofunctional methods have shown that the ovarian horn areas have strong vascularization, which is confirming the pronounced electrical activity of these loci. Oxytocin has a central role in changing of excitation patterns. Increasing hormone concentrations (10–2 μg/kg, 10–1 μg/kg, 1 μg/kg, 10 μg/kg) resulted in increase of the bursting activity duration of all studied myometrial areas. At the same time, rise in the frequency of spike rhythmogenesis was observed only at a dose of 1 μg/kg. Morpho-histochemical analysis revealed the existence of atypical cells with a high level of Ca2+-dependent acid phosphatase in both distal rhythmogenic ends of the horn. However, the ovarian horn area had the greatest enzymatic activity. Thus, the obtained data give good reason to conclude that the ovarian horn area has a leading role in the myometrium.