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Effects of nicotine on uterine blood flow and intrauterine oxygen tension in the rat

Summary. Subcutaneous injection of nicotine (0·5 or 5 mg/kg body wt) resulted in a marked and prolonged reduction in uterine blood flow and intrauterine oxygen tension in pseudopregnant rats. By 10 min after nicotine administration (5 mg/kg) uterine perfusion was reduced by 40%, remained suppressed for 90 min and returned to the pre-treatment level by 120 min. Rats receiving the 0·5 mg nicotine/kg also showed a marked reduction in uterine blood flow, although the response was slower in onset and longer in duration. Nicotine (5 mg/kg) also resulted in a sustained decrease in intrauterine oxygen tension from a control value of 48·9 ± 3·6 to 22·2 ± 2·6 mmHg at 45–60 min and 21·7 ± 1·5 mmHg at 60–90 min. The frequency and amplitude of fluctuations in intrauterine oxygen tension were still reduced by 90 min after treatment.