Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of intracellular calcium homeostasis on contractility changes in the isolated rat myometrium due to metabolic inhibition (induced by chemical hypoxia.

Materials and Methods: Myometrial strips were isolated from virgin Spraque Dawley rats after dislocation and suspended in on isolated tissue bath containing Krebs solution continuously bubbled with %95 O2 and %5 CO2 maintained at 37 C° (pH 7.4). After manifestation of spontaneous contractions, they were equilibrated under resting tension 2,4-dinitrophenole (DNP), potassium cyanide (KCN) and ethylene glycol tetra acetic acid (EGTA) were applied to the tissue bath. The amplitude and frequency of contractions were evaluated by 10-min intervals. Student-t test was used for statically analysis of data.

Results: Adding either DNP (0.8 mM, n=8) or KCN (0.3 mM, n=8) to tissue bath caused a rapid and markedly inhibition in KCl induced myometrium contractions. Application of EGTA (1 mM) caused a decrease in inhibitory effects of metabolic stress induced by DNP and KCN, but these results were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study revealed that contractile inhibition due to metabolic inhibition in rats myometrium may be partially reversed but not inhibited by chelation (EGTA mediated) of the intracellular calcium.