Effects of prostaglandins and oxytocin on calcium release from a uterine microsomal fraction.

A microsomal fraction resembling striated muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was isolated from uterine smooth muscle. ATP induces calcium accumulation in this fraction. Increased temperature enhances calcium accumulation and calcium-activated ATPase. In the absence of ATP, approximately 35% of the intrinsic calcium exchanges with the 45Ca in the incubation medium. In the presence of ATP, exchange of intrinsic calcium with 45Ca increases by an amount which equals the ATP-dependent calcium binding. In preparations partially preloaded with calcium, a steady state of bound calcium is reached when the ATP is exhausted. Calcium is released under these conditions by prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha, but not by PGF1beta. The antibiotic ionophores X537A and A23187, as well as oxytocin, also release calcium previously accumulated under ATP stimulation. None of these agents, with the exception of oxytocin, release intrinsic calcium. Thus, the effect of prostaglandins resembles that of the ionophores, suggesting an ionophoretic action of these prostaglandins. The release of calcium conforms with the in vivo smooth muscle contracting action of these agents.