Gap junctions and direct intercellular communication between rat uterine smooth muscle cells.

We have tested the hypothesis that an increase in direct intercellular communication accompanies the development of gap junctions (GJs) between rat uterine smooth muscle cells at parturition. Intercellular communication in these tissues was studied by exposing one portion of small strips of myometrium to 2-[3H]deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and determining the longitudinal distribution of tracer after a 5-h period of diffusion. The distribution of 2-DG was greater in parturient compared with ante- and postpartum tissues. Similarly, the apparent diffusion coefficient of 2-DG was almost 10-fold greater in delivering tissues (1.86 X 10(-6) cm2/s) than before (0.199 X 10(-6) cm2/s) or after (0.296 X 10(-6) cm2/s) parturition. Control experiments indicated that the redistribution of 2-DG was dependent on the presence of GJs and was the result of intracellular and direct cell-to-cell diffusion. The appearance of GJs is the myometrium at term facilitates direct intercellular communication between uterine smooth muscle cells during labor. This improved communication may be responsible for synchronizing and coordinating electrical, metabolic, and contractile activity in the uterine wall and, hence, the effective expulsion of fetuses.