Contrasting effects of P2 receptor agonists on spontaneous contractility of human fallopian tubes with and without acute inflammation

Two groups of women were used to compare effects of P2 receptor agonists on the contractile activity of isolated human fallopian tubes with and without acute purulent inflammation. A control group included women with uterine tubes without inflammation (n = 15). A study group included women, operated for unsuccessful conservative anti-inflammatory treatment of acute purulent tuboovarial formations (group with acute purulent salpingitis, n = 16). Division into two groups was done according to pathohistological diagnosis. Spontaneous contractions of the isolated tubes were registered isometrically with electromechanical transducer before and after incubation of the tissues with agonists of P2 receptors-ATP, UTP, 2-methylthio-ATP and alpha,beta-methylene-ATP. In the control group neither of the agonists produced any significant effect on fallopian tube contractility. In the study group, ATP, 2-methylthio-ATP and alpha,beta-methylene-ATP significantly increased the spontaneous contractility of isolated tubes. It is suggested that higher activity of P2 receptor agonists in the uterine tubes with acute purulent inflammation is due to expression of several subtypes of P2 receptors during inflammation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.