Effects of Catecholamines on the Smooth Muscle of the Female Reproductive Tract

This review focuses primarily on certain aspects of the actions of the adrenergic amines epinephrine and norepinephrine and of isoproterenol on the smooth muscle of the uterus, oviduct, and ovary. The adrenergic innervation of this muscle is mentioned briefly as background for the consideration of the effects of adrenergic nerve stimulation. The literature citations are selective, not encyclo­ pedic, and cover work published primarily during the past ten years. More ex­ tensive analyses of the pharmacology of the myometrium can be found in numer­ ous excellent reviews (1-6).