Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on endothelin-1 and nitrogen monoxide in uterine tissues of SD rats following abortion / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of low-intensity ultrasound on the contents of endothelin (ET-1) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) in uterine tissues of SD rats after abortion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty female pregnant rats were randomly divided into treatment group and control group and received mifepristone and misoprostol to induce abortion. The rats in the treatment group were treated by low-intensity ultrasound for 30 min/day for 5 consecutive days, and those in the control group received sham treatment. The uterine tissue was then taken and homogenized for measurement of ET-1 and NO contents using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and chemical testing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ET-1 content in the uterine tissues was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05), but NO content showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Low-intensity ultrasound can promote the contraction of uterine smooth muscles by increasing the level of ET-1 to modulate the homeostasis of ET-1 and NO.</p>