Figure 1.
Administration of oxytocin powder formulation to the sheep lung.
Screen images taken (A) prior to; (B) during and (C) 2 min after pulmonary administration of the oxytocin powder formulation above the first bronchial bifurcation.
Figure 2.
Scanning electron micrographs of unprocessed oxytocin and oxytocin loaded carrier particles; (A) unprocessed commercial oxytocin (x 375); (B) oxytocin formulated as an ultrafine dry powder with the glycine-leucine-mannitol carrier (x 5000). (C) Well-dispersed aerosolised plume of ultrafine particles emitted from an insufflator.
Figure 3.
Ex vivo assessment of oxytocin induced uterine smooth muscle contractions.
Effects of applied oxytocin on smooth muscle contractility ex vivo using (A) human (n=8) and (B) ovine (n=8) uterine tissue samples. Contraction was normalized as % of the response to high potassium (HiK) in PSS.
Figure 4.
Ex vivo assessment of oxytocin induced tracheal smooth muscle contractions.
Effects of applied oxytocin on smooth muscle contractility ex vivo using ovine (n=5) tracheal tissue samples. Contraction was normalized as % of the response to acetylcholine (ACh) in PSS.
Figure 5.
Representative electromyograph uterine activity over time in response to oxytocin administration.
Representative electromyograph (EMG) activity over time (min) recorded in vivo from the uterine smooth muscle of sheep (n=8). (A) spontaneous activity during parturition and prior to oxytocin administration; (B) activity following pulmonary administration of 200 IU (nominal dose) of oxytocin prepared as an ultrafine spray-dried powder and; (C) activity following IM injection of 10 IU of oxytocin solution. Oxytocin dose and time of administration are indicated (OT = oxytocin).
Figure 6.
Parameters derived from electromyograph uterine activity in response to oxytocin administration.
Electromyograph (EMG) parameters derived from group EMG profiles outlining; (A) time of onset; (B) duration of initial burst of activity; (C) number of activity bursts per 30 min and; (D) total duration of activity bursts. Data was collected immediately postpartum (PP) and after pulmonary (airway, 200 IU) or IM (10 IU) administration of oxytocin to ewes. Data presented as mean ± SD, n=8.