Changes in Gastric Smooth Muscle Cell Contraction during Pregnancy: Effect of Estrogen

Figure 4

Changes in contraction of GSMC from early- and late-pregnant rats. Contraction of GSMC in response to ACh was significantly greater in cells from late-pregnant animals compared to cells from early-pregnant animals. Estrogen (E2) significantly inhibited ACh-induced contraction in GSMC of both groups of cells. Importantly, estrogen inhibition of contraction was greater in cells from the early-pregnant animals (~41% reduction) compared to cells from the late-pregnant animals (~25% reduction). L-NNA (NO synthase inhibitor) and ODQ (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) significantly blocked estrogen effect in both groups. (P < 0.05 for the groups in comparison, n = 30 cells from 10 different rats).