Estrogen reduces beta-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP production and the concentration of the guanyl nucleotide-regulatory protein, Gs, in rabbit myometrium.

The uterine contractile response to adrenergic agonists or sympathetic stimulation is influenced dramatically by the hormonal milieu. Rabbit uterine contraction is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors, whereas relaxation in response to the same stimulus is mediated by beta 2-adrenoceptors. Whether uterine contractility is increased or decreased by adrenergic stimulation is determined by the gonadal steroids estrogen and progesterone: uterine contraction prevails in the estrogen-dominant or the ovariectomized animal, but in the progesterone-dominant rabbit, uterine relaxation is observed. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that changes in the concentration or agonist affinity of these adrenoceptors cannot account for the changes in contractile response. In the present studies, we tested whether sex steroids might alter beta-adrenergic response by acting on events distal to receptor occupancy, and whether this could explain the conversion of contractile response. We found that myometrial cAMP generation is potently stimulated by beta-agonists in progesterone-treated and also in ovariectomized animals, but this stimulation is absent after estrogen treatment. Similar, but smaller, changes were observed for cAMP generation in response to prostaglandin E2 and forskolin. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase in uterine particulates by agents which act on the guanyl nucleotide-sensitive stimulatory transducer, Gs, is unchanged after estrogen treatment. However, specific labeling of Gs catalyzed by cholera toxin is reduced in membrane particulates from estrogen-treated animals. Recombination of extracts of uterine membranes from the differently treated animals also suggested qualitative differences in Gs. We conclude that at least one component of the adenylate cyclase cascade beyond the beta-adrenoceptor, i.e., Gs, is a target for ovarian steroids; estrogen reduces Gs labeling and beta-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP production. However, uterine Gs labeling and cAMP production are similar in ovariectomized and in progesterone-treated rabbits. Since these uteri exhibit different contractile responses, the observed changes are not sufficient to explain sex steroid-mediated conversion of myometrial contractile response.