Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Dec;55(6):723-730. 10.4097/kjae.2008.55.6.723.

The comparison of the relaxant effects of propofol, thiopental, ketamine, and etomidate on isolated rat uterine smooth muscle

Affiliations
  • 1Eun Sam Sung Plastic and Reconstructive Hospital, Bu-Cheon, Korea. than@chosun.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 3Department of Obestetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 4JB Stem Cell Institute, Inc., Gwangju, Korea.
  • 5Department of Anesthesiology, Yanjishiyiyuan Hospital, Jilinsheng, China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intravenous hypnotics are used in pregnancy, labor and delivery. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the relaxant effects of propofol, thiopental, ketamine, and etomidate on isolated rat uterine smooth muscles.
METHODS
Uterine smooth muscle preparations were obtained from non-pregnant female rats. The uterus of the rat was dissected and cut into 10 mm strips. The muscle strips were bathed in Krebs solution. After spontaneous uterine contractile activity had been accomplished, propofol, ketamine, thiopental, and etomidate in various concentrations were added cumulatively to the baths and resting tension, active tension, and frequency of contration were recorded at each concentration of agents. EC(5), EC(25), EC(50), EC(75), and EC(95) of each drug on active tension and frequency of contraction were calculated using a probit model.
RESULTS
Propofol, thiopental, and etomidate reduced uterine contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Ketamine concentrations of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M augmented uterine contractions but ketamine concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-3) M attenuated uterine contractions. The EC(50)'s of propofol, thiopental, ketamine, and etomidate on active tension were 1.56 x 10(-5) M, 4.97 x 10(-5) M, 3.52 x 10(-4) M, and 2.73 x 10(-5) M, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
All four intravenous hypnotics relaxed the uterine smooth muscle of rats except for ketamine in low concentrations (10(-7) to 10(-5) M). Propofol had the greatest relaxant effects on isolated rat uterine smooth muscle among these hypnotics. It seems that ketamine is a suitable obstetric hypnotic agent for hypovolemic parturients and propofol is a useful hypnotic agent for uterine relaxation during pregnancy.

Keyword

etomidate; hypnotics; ketamine; propofol; rat uterine smooth muscle; thiopental

MeSH Terms

Animals
Baths
Contracts
Etomidate
Female
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Hypovolemia
Isotonic Solutions
Ketamine
Muscle, Smooth
Muscles
Pregnancy
Propofol
Rats
Relaxation
Thiopental
Uterine Contraction
Uterus
Etomidate
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Isotonic Solutions
Ketamine
Propofol
Thiopental
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