Carbachol and oxytocin stimulate the generation of inositol phosphates in the guinea pig myometrium.

In the guinea pig myometrium prelabelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, carbachol and oxytocin enhanced a concentration-dependent and rapid release of IP3 which preceded that of IP2 and IP1. The specific receptor-mediated phospholipase C activation degrading PIP2 to IP3 did not require the presence of extracellular Ca2+. The ionophore A23187 as well as K+ depolarization failed to increase inositol phosphate accumulation. It is proposed that IP3 could have a role in the contraction of uterine smooth muscle elicited by the activation of muscarinic as well as of oxytocin receptors.