The Effects of Indomethacin and Meclofenamate on Estrogen Induced Vasodilation in the Rabbit Uterus

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The following experiment was designed to study the response of the uterine vasculature to estrogen treatment in the rabbit and to determine if prostaglandins [PG] are involved in this response through the use of the known prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, indomethacin and meclofenamate. Estrogen induced vasodilation is not mediated by PG formation. The vasoconstriction occurring in the kidneys following treatment with either indomethacin or meclofenamate indicates that PG synthesis blockade occurred. The uterus showed no vasoconstriction due to indomethacin so that the vasoconstriction seen after meclofenamate may have been due to a side effect on the drug. The fact that indomethacin depressed the uterine response to estrogen is in concordance with the literature, but must be examined in view of the fact that meclofenamate did not produce a similar response. Indomethacin induced depression of the response to estrogen probably was not due to the blockade of PG synthesis, but due to a side effect of indomethacin or its vehicle. PG synthesis does not appear to be essential to estrogen induced vasodilation in the rabbit uterus.