Subcutaneous injection of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonist cyproheptadine hydrochloride (Periactin) produced a significant decrease in uptake of [14C]5-HT (serotonin) in the myometrium and to a lesser degree in the ovaries, foetuses and heart of pregnant rats. This effect of cyproheptadine was considerably increased in rats pretreated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline hydrochloride. These results suggest that the anti \x=req-\ abortive effect of cyproheptadine is based on specific inhibition of the contractile effect of 5-HT on the myometrium. The hypothesis is advanced that cyproheptadine competes with serotonin for its receptors and thus blocks the effect of serotonin.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.