Human Myometrial Contractility Assays

Traditional contractility assays using an organ bath setup consist of several chambers (or baths) perfused with temperature-controlled, oxygenated physiological saline. Strips or rings of tissue (usually smooth or cardiac muscle) are mounted within the organ bath between a fixed hook and an isometric force transducer. The contraction force is recorded by the transducer and different parameters of contraction are analyzed. Different experimental protocols can be performed to investigate the effect of drugs and reagents on tissue contractility to investigate tissue physiology or determine the in vivo potential of novel pharmaceutical compounds. Here, the application of a modified organ bath to measure ex vivo contractions of small strips of human uterine smooth muscle (myometrium) is described, as well as protocols to study the effect of oxytocin and uterine relaxants on contraction.