ABSTRACT
Studies of humans at the tissue or cellular level can be a solid link between the expected and observed responses. Experimentation on human uterine tissue presents two unique problems-obtaining tissues and controlling the clinical variables. Human tissue obtained at the time of a diagnostic procedure is available for research purposes if procurement of the tissue is considered a normal part of the procedure. A relatively underutilized source of human reproductive smooth muscle obtained in the pregnant state is excess tissue obtained from postpartum tubal ligation. Proponents cite human fetal tissue as a sole source for cellular transplant research, whereas opponents link the fetal tissue issue to encouraging elective abortion. Tissue obtained from pregnant patients in labor are likely significantly different than that obtained from nonlaboring patients. Tachyphylaxis to isoproterenol was seen to occur on the time-scale of minutes with strips of pregnant human uterine tissue.
