Influence of terbutaline on ovine uterine response to prostaglandin E2 challenge.

Abstract

Our purpose was to test the effects of terbutaline on uterine electric and contractile responses to prostaglandin E2. In five late-gestation ewes, prostaglandin E2 (22.9 +/- 2.3 micrograms/min for 3 minutes) was given twice at 30-minute intervals during control. Terbutaline sulfate (2 micrograms/min) was then infused for 30 minutes. Prostaglandin E2 challenge was repeated 10 minutes after the onset of terbutaline infusion and thereafter at 30-minute intervals. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed a significant main effect for time (p less than or equal to 0.0001) and between time and response (p less than or equal to 0.05). Both electric (p less than or equal to 0.0001) and intrauterine pressure (p less than or equal to 0.0001) responses were suppressed during terbutaline. The influence on intrauterine pressure persisted 10 minutes after terbutaline (p less than or equal to 0.01) while the electric response was not different from control. Terbutaline initially diminishes both uterine contractile and electric activity, but electric recovery precedes contractile recovery.