Abstract
The action of the antibiotics on the uterus has been mainly investigated to determine the degree of their efficacy in the treatment of the local infections, with little attention to the possibility of their eventual interference with the uterus tone and motility. On the other hand, it is well known that the antibiotics can interfere with the smooth muscle of the extra-hepatic biliary tract (1, 2), the extra-renal urinary tract (3), the bronchial tract (4) and the intestinal tract (5-9). Concerning the influence of some antibiotics on uterine motor activity, Popovici et al. (10) found in the guinea-pig that Erythromycin, Streptomycin, Chlortetracycline, and Chloramphenicol had a stimulating action. While with Erythromycin only this effect was seen, independent of the dose used. Inhibitory action, in larger doses, constantly appears after use of Streptomycin and very seldom after Chlortetracycline and Chloramphenicol. The mechanism producing these effects is different in pregnant and non-pregnant states.
In the present paper the action of Gentamicin, Aminosidin and Ampicillin on the uterine tone and motility of guinea-pig and dog, both in vitro and in situ, is described.
