Effects of Adipokinetic Hormone/Red Pigment-Concentrating Hormone (AKH/RPCH) Family of Peptides on Uterine Contraction

Objective: Many processes in insects, including metabolic, behavioral, developmental, and reproductive processes, are altered by neuropeptides. Adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone (AKH/RPCH) family of peptides include adipokinetic and hypertrehalosemic peptides. Methods: The present study investigated the effects of Anax imperator AKH (Ani-AKH), Libellula auripennis AKH (Lia-AKH), Phormia terraenovae hypertrehalosemic hormone (Pht-HrTH) and oxytocin on uterine contractility in human uterus strips. Contraction formed by Ani-AKH, Lia-AKH, Pht-HrTH and oxytocin were obtained from percentages of the maximal contraction of KCl (80 mM). Results: No difference detected between contractions of Ani-AKH, Lia-AKH, or Pht-HrTH and oxytocin at doses of 10-8 M in human uterus strips. Lia-AKH (10-7-10-4 M) significantly increased uterine contractions compared to oxytocin (10-7-10-4 M) in human uterus strips. Both Ani-AKH (10-4 M) and Lia-AKH (10-4 M) significantly increased uterine contractions compared to oxytocin (10-4 M) in human uterus strips. Conclusion: These results show that the AKHs examined can be used to induce human uterine contraction.