Lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors reveal a complementary role of arachidonic acid derivatives in pregnant human myometrium

Molecular regulators of resolution of inflammation: potential therapeutic targets in the reproductive system

“…Overexpression of 15-LOX in particular is associated with enhanced lipoxin production (Serhan et al 2003), and interestingly 15-LOX expression is detected in myometrial smooth muscle and blood vessels (Lei & Rao 1992). Other LOX enzymes including 5-and 12-LOX have also been reported in term uteroplacental tissues (Corriveau et al 2010). LOX enzymes are also detected in the theca and granulosa layers of rat pre-ovulatory ovarian follicles (Kurusu et al 2009).…”

Chronic levothyroxine and acute T3 treatments enhance the amplitude and time course of uterine contractions in human

“…Western blot analysis. Subcellular fractions (cytosolic) were prepared from myometrium, fetal membranes, and placenta and were subsequently separated on 10% SDS-PAGE as described previously (8). For Western blot analysis, nitrocellulose membranes were blocked for 1 h with 5% nonfat dry milk in Tris-buffered saline with 0.1% Tween at room temperature.…”

“…Obtained biopsies were dissected in multiple longitudinal myometrial strips (measuring ϳ2 ϫ 2 ϫ 10 mm). Strips were cleansed of adherent tissue and mounted for isometric recordings under 2 g of resting tension in an organ bath system, as described previously (8,9,26). The organ baths contained 7 ml of Krebs solution maintained at 37°C, pH 7.4, and were gassed continuously with a mixture of 95% oxygen-5% carbon dioxide.…”

“…Myometrial strips were allowed to equilibrate for Ն2 h, after which a 30-min period was allowed to achieve spontaneous phasic contractions in the isolated organ bath. Passive and active tensions were assessed using transducer systems (Radnoti Glass Technology, Monrovia, CA) coupled to Polyview software (Grass-Astro-Med, West Warwick, RI) for facilitating data acquisition and analysis (7,8). The effect of thyroid hormone was assessed using T 4 and T3.…”

Antenatal montelukast treatment reduces uterine activity associated with inflammation in a pregnant rat model

“…Indeed, montelukast has been reported to inhibit 5-LOX in inflammatory cells [19,20] and interfere with COX-2 activity, resulting in decreased prostaglandin levels [21]. In 2010, we demonstrated that inhibition of 5-LOX and COX largely reduced contractions in vitro [22]. Moreover, specific antagonists of cysLTR1, namely pranlukast and montelukast, have also been shown to decrease LPS-induced cytokines such as TNF-a and IL-6 [23,24].…”