THE EFFECT OF GLUTATHIONE ON OXYTOCIN-INDUCED CONTRACTILE ACTIVITY AND BASAL TONE OF THE RAT UTERINE MYOMETRIUM UNDER CONDITIONS OF ENDOTOXEMIA

The naturally occurring endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can cause systemic endotoxemia and impair animal reproductive capacity. LPS induces oxidative stress and alters protein, receptor expression, and metabolic pathways in the uterus, impairing its function. The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of glutathione on the contractile activity of the uterine myometrium induced by oxytocin in rats under conditions of LPS-induced endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was modeled in female rats by intraperitoneal administration of LPS from E. coli (1 mg/kg), followed 6 hours later by the removal of uterine horns. The oxytocin-induced contractile response was recorded in vitro in the presence and absence of glutathione (5 mM). It was found that in endotoxemia, oxytocin increased both the amplitude and frequency of contractions and basal tone. Glutathione significantly reduced the LPS-potentiated effects of oxytocin, bringing them closer to control values. These results indicate the potential of glutathione in mitigating uterine hypercontractility associated with inflammatory conditions.