Actions of bile salts and of papaverine and intracellular cyclic AMP in isolated rat uterus.

Both antioxytocin and antiphosphodiesterase activities of desoxycholate were potentiated by lowering the pH of the medium. The results suggest the possibility that it is the bile salt in the non-ionized form which exerts the antioxytocin and antiphosphodiesterase action. The concentration of tissue cyclic AMP was measured at different times during relaxation of the uterus. The results show a significant increase in tissue cyclic AMP concentration at a time when the muscle was just beginning to relax in response to papaverine, but not in response to chenodesoxycholate. The intracellular level of cyclic AMP during relaxation of the uterus produced by papaverine or chenodesoxycholate was, however, significantly increased when relaxation was about 90% complete. The difference between the mode of action of papaverine and that of the bile salts is discussed.