OKONMAH ESTHER CHUKWUNONYELUM

Rutin hydrate (Vitamin P), a known flavonoid glycoside, commercially available and found in various plants, have been shown to possess a range of pharmacological effects including antioxidant, cytoprotective, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective and cardioprotective activities. There is however limited scientific knowledge on its effect on the uterus. This study aimed at investigating the effect of rutin hydrate on spontaneous and agonistinduced contractions of isolated pregnant mice uterine tissues. Pure rutin hydrate sample was examined on uterine tissues isolated from healthy pregnant albino mice (gestation day 18). This investigation was carried out using a range of concentrations (0.03- 25mg/ml) to assess its activity on spontaneous contractions, oxytocin-induced contractions, high KCL-induced contractions, as well as oxytocin-induced contractions in a calcium-free medium. For mating conditions to achieve pregnancy, virgin female albino mice were paired with male mouse of the same strain overnight at the ratio of 2:1 and gestation day 0 was defined by the presence of vaginal plug in the paired females the next morning. Rutin hydrate exerted inhibitory effects on spontaneous uterine contractions in a dose dependent manner. Both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions progressively reduced until complete elimination. There was immediate tissue recovery following washout of the drug with fresh PSS. It however showed no significant changes to the contractions elicited by oxytocin, high KCL and oxytocin-induced contractions in a zero-calcium medium. This study offers scientific evidence suggesting that rutin hydrate has relaxing effects on pregnant uterine contractions but does not interfere with calcium-dependent mechanisms of action in the uterus. Hence, this compound merits further investigation as a potentially new or complementary tocolytic drug therapy, via studying its effects on pathways other than calcium antagonism, for managing conditions requiring uterine contractility inhibition during pregnancy, such as in preterm labou