Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of homocysteine on spontaneous contractions of guinea pig myometrium.

Material and method: Full thickness myometrium strips were obtained from late-pregnant guinea pigs following decapitation and suspended in an isolated organ bath which was filled with physiological salt solution at pH 7.4 maintained at 37�C and continuously bubbled with 95 CO₂ %-%5 O₂. After manifestation of spontaneous contractions under one gram of resting tension, homocysteine (0.2, 0.5 and 1 mM) was added to the organ bath and effects of this agent on frequency and amplitude of contractions were evaluated by 20-minute periods. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis of data.

Results: Homocysteine caused increase in both frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions in a dose dependent manner.

Conclusion: The results from this in vitro study indicates that, cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine has contracting pharmacological effects on guinea pig myometrium.