Glivec Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Glivec, including details on gleevec, imatinib, cancer, treatment, side-effects.

The Effect of Imatinib Mesylate on the Contractility of Isolated Rabbit Myometrial Strips.

Hutchings G, Deprest J, Nilius B, Roskams T, De Ridder D

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: C-kit receptor expressing interstitial cells generate and coordinate the electrical signals that control peristalsis in the gut. However, the function of interstitial cells in the myometrium is not known. Methods: (1) Sections of rabbit myometrium were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for the c-kit receptor. (2) Spontaneously contracting myometrial strips from New Zealand White rabbits near term were mounted in an organ bath and attached to a tension-recording device. The effect of increased concentrations of the c-kit receptor antagonist imatinib mesylate on these contractions was observed. The main outcome measures were the change in frequency, amplitude and duration of contraction. Results: (1) Multipolar cells expressing c-kit were identified in the fibromuscular septum confirming the presence of interstitial cells in rabbit myometrium. (2) Imatinib decreased the amplitude of contractions by approximately 20% at 100 muM. No effect was seen at lower concentrations. No effect of imatinib on frequency or duration of contractions was observed at any of the concentrations studied. Conclusions: In isolated rabbit myometrium, acute inhibition of the c-kit receptor by imatinib mesylate affects only the amplitude of spontaneous contractions at concentrations, the equivalent of x10-100 the normal therapeutic concentration. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Published 7 April 2006 in Gynecol Obstet Invest, 62(2): 79-83.
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