The effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine on the contractility of rat myometrium

Arici G., Karsli B., Kayacan N., Akar M. B.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA, vol.13, no.2, pp.95-98, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 13 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2003.10.007
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.95-98
  • Keywords: bupivacaine, ropivacaine, mepivacaine, uterine contractility, rat, LOCAL-ANESTHETIC AGENTS, EPIDURAL ANALGESIA, UTERINE ACTIVITY, ACTIVE-PHASE, BLOOD-FLOW, LABOR, MITOCHONDRIA, ARTERIOLES, LIDOCAINE, MECHANISM
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Abstract

Local anesthetic agents are commonly used for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia. We determined the effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine on the contractility of isolated pregnant rat uterine muscle strips. Uterine specimens were obtained from 18- to 21-day pregnant Wistar rats (n = 28). Myometrial strips were obtained from the uterine horns after removing the fetuses and non-uterine tissue, incubated in organ baths and contractions stimulated with oxytocin. When contractions became regular, strips were exposed to increasing concentrations of the study drugs. Mepivacaine (n = 8), ropivacaine (n = 10) and bupivacaine (n = 10) were used at cumulative doses from 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/L. Two of the local anesthetics, bupivacaine most, ropivacaine least, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of uterine contractility. In contrast, mepivacaine significantly increased uterine contractility. Bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine were found to have no effect on frequency of uterine contractions. These results demonstrate that bupivacaine and ropivacaine may inhibit myometrium contractility. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Local anesthetic agents are commonly used for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia. We determined the effects of bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine on the contractility of isolated pregnant rat uterine muscle strips. Uterine specimens were obtained from 18- to 21-day pregnant Wistar rats (n = 28). Myometrial strips were obtained from the uterine horns after removing the fetuses and non-uterine tissue, incubated in organ baths and contractions stimulated with oxytocin. When contractions became regular, strips were exposed to increasing concentrations of the study drugs. Mepivacaine (n = 8), ropivacaine (n = 10) and bupivacaine (n = 10) were used at cumulative doses from 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/L. Two of the local anesthetics, bupivacaine most, ropivacaine least, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of uterine contractility. In contrast, mepivacaine significantly increased uterine contractility. Bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine were found to have no effect on frequency of uterine contractions. These results demonstrate that bupivacaine and ropivacaine may inhibit myometrium contractility. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.