ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of Sanjie Zhentong capsule on cultured mouse myometrial cell contraction induced by prostaglandin F2α( PGF2α) , and to elucidate the mechanism of Sanjie Zhentong capsule in treating dysmenorrheal. Methods Primary mouse myometrial cells were cultured and identified. Intracel-lular calcium ( [ Ca2+] i ) was monitored under a Flex-Station 3 Benchtop Multi-Modo Microplate Reader u-sing Calcium 6-QF. Myometrial cells were labeled to observe the changes of contraction. The expressions of calmodulin ( CaM ) , myosin light chain kinase ( ML-CK) , myosin light chain phosphorylation( p-MLC20 ) in mouse uterine smooth muscle cells ( USMCs ) were determined by immunofluorescence. Results Sanjie Zhentong capsule suppressed the intracellular[Ca2 + ]i inflow and reduced the areas of myometrial cells induced by PGF2α. Then it significantly decreased CaM and p-MLC20 levels. Conclusion Our results indicate that Sanjie Zhentong capsule has inhibitory effect on dysmenorrheal induced by PGF2α. Furthermore,its major mechanism may be related with the regulation of intracellular[ Ca2 + ]i inflow and the levels of CaM and p- MLC20.