The onset of human parturition

Kamel, Remah M

doi:10.1007/s00404-010-1365-9

Cited by 105 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…The trigger for initiating parturition varies between species, but it seems that oxytocin is commonly a driver for uterine contractions once parturition has begun (Russell et al 2003, Arrowsmith & Wray 2014. Oxytocin may also play some part in the initiation of labour, but in women, other paracrine mechanisms are more important for this (Kamel 2010). However, oxytocin antagonists are used to avert threatened preterm labour (Usta et al 2011).…”

Section: Parturitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The posterior pituitary, from Geoffrey Harris to our present understanding

Leng¹,

Pineda²,

Sabatier³

et al. 2015

Journal of Endocrinology

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Geoffrey Harris pioneered our understanding of the posterior pituitary, mainly with experiments that involved the electrical stimulation of the supraoptico-hypophysial tract. In the present essay, we explain how his observations included clues to the pulsatile nature of the oxytocin signal -clues that were followed up by subsequent workers, including his students and their students. These studies ultimately led to our present understanding of the milk-ejection reflex and of the role of oxytocin in parturition. Discoveries of wide significance followed, including: the recognition of the importance of pulsatile hormone secretion; the recognition of the importance of stimulus-secretion coupling mechanisms in interpreting the patterned electrical activity of neurons; the physiological importance of peptide release in the brain; the recognition that peptide release comes substantially from dendrites and can be regulated independently of nerve terminal secretion; and the importance of dynamic morphological changes to neuronal function in the hypothalamus. All of these discoveries followed from the drive to understand the milk-ejection reflex. We also reflect on Harris's observations on vasopressin secretion, on the effects of stress, and on oxytocin secretion during sexual activity.

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Section: Parturitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The posterior pituitary, from Geoffrey Harris to our present understanding

Leng¹,

Pineda²,

Sabatier³

et al. 2015

Journal of Endocrinology

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“…Examination of its development reveals the unimaginative model of an OT receptor blocker to block the actions of OT [22] . In humans however, labor is not just the result of stimulation of the myometrium by oxytocin [23] .…”

Section: Quiescence Is Keymentioning

confidence: 99%

A role of stretch-activated potassium currents in the regulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction

Buxton

Heyman

et al. 2011

Acta Pharmacol Sin

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Rates of premature birth are alarming and threaten societies and healthcare systems worldwide. Premature labor results in premature birth in over 50% of cases. Preterm birth accounts for three-quarters of infant morbidity and mortality. Children that survive birth before 34 weeks gestation often face life-long disability. Current treatments for preterm labor are wanting. No treatment has been found to be generally effective and none are systematically evaluated beyond 48 h. New approaches to the treatment of preterm labor are desperately needed. Recent studies from our laboratory suggest that the uterine muscle is a unique compartment with regulation of uterine relaxation unlike that of other smooth muscles. Here we discuss recent evidence that the mechanically activated 2-pore potassium channel, TREK-1, may contribute to contraction-relaxation signaling in uterine smooth muscle and that TREK-1 gene variants associated with human labor and preterm labor may lead to a better understanding of preterm labor and its possible prevention.

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“…Such changes are associated with the expression of a group of proteins known as the uterine activation proteins (UAPs) which includes (GJA1) connexin 43 (CX43), prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), ion channels and the receptors of uterotonic agonists such as oxytocin receptor (OTR) and prostaglandin F2a (PGF2A) receptor (PTGFR) (Fuchs et al 1995, Challis et al 2000, Kamel 2010). Thus, understanding the mechanisms responsible for controlling the expression of these proteins during pregnancy would gain deep insights into the mechanisms underlying the onset of human parturition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prostaglandin F2α regulates the expression of uterine activation proteins via multiple signalling pathways

Xu¹,

You²,

Liu³

et al. 2015

Reproduction

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Prostaglandin F2a (PGF2A) has multiple roles in the birth process in addition to its vital contractile role. Our previous study has demonstrated that PGF2A can modulate uterine activation proteins (UAPs) in cultured pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells (HMSMCs). The objective of this study was to define the signalling pathways responsible for PGF2A modulation of UAPs in myometrium. It was found that PGF2A stimulated the expression of (GJA1) connexin 43 (CX43), prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) in cultured HMSMCs. The inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC) blocked PGF2A-stimulated expression of CX43. The inhibitors of ERK, P38 and NFkB also blocked the effect of PGF2A on CX43 expression, whereas PI3K and calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) pathway inhibitors did not reverse the effect of PGF2A on CX43. For PTGS2 and OTR, PLC, PI3K, P38 and calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathways were involved in PGF2A action, whereas PKC and NFkB signalling were not involved. In addition, PGF2A activated NFAT, PI3K, NFkB, ERK and P38 signalling pathways. Our data suggest that PGF2A stimulates CX43, PTGS2 and OTR through divergent signalling pathways.

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The onset of human parturition

Abstract: The result show that birth is a result of complex, partially defined, events that are tightly regulated by a variety of mechanisms and mediators of endocrine, nervous and immune systems. Unfortunately, none of them is completely elucidated.

Cited by 105 publications

References 57 publications

60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The posterior pituitary, from Geoffrey Harris to our present understanding

60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The posterior pituitary, from Geoffrey Harris to our present understanding

A role of stretch-activated potassium currents in the regulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction

Prostaglandin F2α regulates the expression of uterine activation proteins via multiple signalling pathways

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