Morinda lucida reduces contractility of isolated uterine smooth muscle of pregnant and non-pregnant mice

Abstract

The present work investigated the effect of Morinda lucida (M. lucida) extract on isolated uterine smooth muscle of pregnant and non-pregnant mice. Pregnant and non-pregnant mice were pretreated with oral stilboesterol (0.1mg/kg body weight) and killed by cervical dislocation. Thin strips of the uterus were cut and mounted in a 20-ml organ bath containing De Jalon solution bubbled with 95%O2-5% CO2 gas mixture. The strips were connected to a force transducer coupled to a Grass 7D Polygraph for the recording of isometric tension. Effects of graded concentrations of oxytocin (OXY; 10-5–10-2 mol/L), acetylcholine (ACh; 10-9-10-5 mol/L) and M. lucida extract (0.015–1.5mg/ml) were recorded. Fresh uterine strips were then incubated with M. lucida extract for 5mins and cumulative
response to OXY was repeated. Another set of fresh strips was incubated in L-NAME for 15mins and the cumulative responses to M.lucida extract were repeated. OXY resulted in increased contractile
responses in both pregnant and non-pregnant uterine muscles. M. lucida resulted in relaxation of the uterine smooth muscle in both pregnant and non-pregnant mice at all doses. However, at 1.500mg/ml,
M. lucida completely blocked spontaneous uterine contractions. Following incubation with L-NAME, M. lucida extract led to a slightly greater relaxation of the uterine strips. In conclusion, M. lucida
reduced contractility of uterine smooth muscle in both pregnant and non-pregnant mice as well as blocking contractile responses to OXY and Ach in uterine smooth muscle of pregnant and nonpregnant
mice. There was no significant alteration of M. lucida activity by L-NAME suggesting that the action of the compound on uterine muscle is not associated with impaired nitric oxide synthase.