Publications by authors named "Nicola Woodcock"

It is not known whether agonists (other than oxytocin) increase the contractile protein sensitivity to intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in human myometrium. We determined the calcium-tension relationship in the presence and absence of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). PGF2alpha increased the calcium sensitivity during both the contractile (rising) and relaxation (falling) phases of a contraction.

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The onset of human labour is complex and involves multiple mediators, prostaglandins, cytokines and chemokines. However, whilst prostaglandins are routinely used for labour induction and inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis are used to prevent pre-term labour, these practices are not invariably successful, and the rationale for their use is equivocal. As COX-2 and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production is increased towards term, we have investigated the effect of PGE(2) and other cAMP-elevating agents on events associated with labour induction.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the possible mechanism and effect of oxytocin receptor on the sensitization of the contractile proteins to [Ca(++)](i).

Study Design: Myometrial strips were prepared from biopsy specimens that had been taken at term (37-40 weeks of gestation) cesarean delivery from 22 women, before the onset of labor. Simultaneous measurements of [Ca(++)](i) and tension were performed on spontaneously contracting strips.

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