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Giri T, Jiang J, Xu Z, McCarthy R, Halabi CM, Tycksen E, Cahill AG, England SK, Palanisamy A. Labor induction with oxytocin in pregnant rats is not associated with oxidative stress in the fetal brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3143. [PMID: 35210555 PMCID: PMC8873427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of oxytocin for induction of labor, mechanistic insights into fetal/neonatal wellbeing are lacking because of the absence of an animal model that recapitulates modern obstetric practice. Here, we create and validate a hi-fidelity pregnant rat model that mirrors labor induction with oxytocin in laboring women. The model consists of an implantable preprogrammed microprocessor-controlled infusion pump that delivers a gradually escalating dose of intravenous oxytocin to induce birth at term gestation. We validated the model with molecular biological experiments on the uterine myometrium and telemetry-supported assessment of changes in intrauterine pressure. Finally, we applied this model to test the hypothesis that labor induction with oxytocin would be associated with oxidative stress in the newborn brain. Analysis of biomarkers of oxidative stress and changes in the expression of associated genes were no different between oxytocin-exposed and saline-treated pups, suggesting that oxytocin-induced labor was not associated with oxidative stress in the developing brain. Collectively, we provide a viable and realistic animal model for labor induction and augmentation with oxytocin that would enable new lines of investigation related to the impact of perinatal oxytocin exposure on the mother-infant dyad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tusar Giri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jia Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ronald McCarthy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Carmen M Halabi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric Tycksen
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alison G Cahill
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sarah K England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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Malik M, Roh M, England SK. Uterine contractions in rodent models and humans. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 231:e13607. [PMID: 33337577 PMCID: PMC8047897 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant uterine contractions can lead to preterm birth and other labour complications and are a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. To investigate the mechanisms underlying dysfunctional uterine contractions, researchers have used experimentally tractable small animal models. However, biological differences between humans and rodents change how researchers select their animal model and interpret their results. Here, we provide a general review of studies of uterine excitation and contractions in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and humans, in an effort to introduce new researchers to the field and help in the design and interpretation of experiments in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasi Malik
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO USA
| | - Michelle Roh
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO USA
| | - Sarah K. England
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO USA
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Butler T, Paul J, Europe-Finner N, Smith R, Chan EC. Role of serine-threonine phosphoprotein phosphatases in smooth muscle contractility. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2013; 304:C485-504. [PMID: 23325405 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00161.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The degree of phosphorylation of myosin light chain 20 (MLC20) is a major determinant of force generation in smooth muscle. Myosin phosphatases (MPs) contain protein phosphatase (PP) 1 as catalytic subunits and are the major enzymes that dephosphorylate MLC20. MP regulatory targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1), the main regulatory subunit of MP in all smooth muscles, is a key convergence point of contractile and relaxatory pathways. Combinations of regulatory mechanisms, including isoform splicing, multiple phosphorylation sites, and scaffolding proteins, modulate MYPT1 activity with tissue and agonist specificities to affect contraction and relaxation. Other members of the PP1 family that do not target myosin, as well as PP2A and PP2B, dephosphorylate a range of proteins that affect smooth muscle contraction. This review discusses the role of phosphatases in smooth muscle contractility with a focus on MYPT1 in uterine smooth muscle. Myometrium shares characteristics of vascular and other visceral smooth muscles yet, during healthy pregnancy, undergoes hypertrophy, hyperplasia, quiescence, and labor as physiological processes. Myometrium presents an accessible model for the study of normal and pathological smooth muscle function, and a better understanding of myometrial physiology may allow the development of novel therapeutics for the many disorders of myometrial physiology from preterm labor to dysmenorrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent Butler
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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Léveillé N, Fournier A, Labrie C. Androgens down-regulate myosin light chain kinase in human prostate cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2009; 114:174-9. [PMID: 19429448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2009.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2008] [Revised: 11/11/2008] [Accepted: 02/04/2009] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Androgens play a major role in the growth and survival of primary prostate tumors. The molecular mechanisms involved in prostate cancer progression are not fully understood but genes that are regulated by androgens clearly influence this process. We searched for new androgen-regulated genes using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Genome U95 Set in the androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Analysis of gene expression profiles revealed that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) mRNA levels were markedly down-regulated by the synthetic androgen R1881. The microarray data were confirmed by ribonuclease protection assays. RNA and protein analyses revealed that LNCaP cells express both long (non-muscle) and short (smooth muscle) isoforms, and that both isoforms are down-regulated by androgens. Taken together, these data identify MLCK as a novel downstream target of the androgen signalling pathway in prostate cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Léveillé
- Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec and Université Laval, 2705 Laurier Boulevard, Québec, Canada
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Abstract
A better understanding of the mechanisms that generate and modulate uterine contractility is needed if progress is to be made in the prevention or treatment of problems in labour. Dysfunctional labour describes the condition when uterine contractility is too poor to dilate the cervix, and it is the leading cause of emergency Caesarean sections. Recently, insight has been gained into a possible causal mechanism for dysfunctional labour. Study of the physiological mechanisms that produce excitation in the uterus, the subsequent Ca(2)(+) signals and biochemical pathway leading to contraction has underpinned this progress. In this review, I give an account of excitation-contraction signalling in the myometrium and explore the implications of recent findings concerning lipid rafts for these processes. I also discuss how changes of pH are fundamentally enmeshed in uterine activity and biochemistry and explore the effect that pH changes will have on human myometrium. Finally, I present the evidence that acidification of the myometrium is correlated with dysfunctional labour and suggest the processes by which it is occurring. It is only by gaining a better understanding of uterine physiology and pathophysiology that progress will be made and research findings translated into clinical benefit for women and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Wray
- Department of Physiology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
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Abstract
The regulation of uterine relaxation is poorly understood but research in myometrial tissue and other types of smooth muscle has defined a number of receptors, ion channels and regulatory proteins that are likely to be involved. Some of these proteins are substrates for protein kinases, especially cyclic nucleotide dependent kinases. More research is necessary to identify the key molecules involved in the maintenance of uterine quiescence in pregnancy. The use of tocolytics in preterm labour remains controversial; there is a need to identify better pharmacological targets to provoke safe and selective uterine relaxation and improve neonatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- A López Bernal
- University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Science at South Bristol (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK.
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Abstract
AIM: To study preliminarily the properties of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in rabbit liver.
METHODS: The expression of MLCK was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the MLCK was obtained from rabbit liver, and its activity was analyzed by γ-32 P incorporation technique to detect the phosphorylation of myosin light chain.
RESULTS: MLCK was expressed in rabbit liver, and the activity of the enzyme was similar to rabbit smooth muscle MLCK, and calmodulin- dependent. When the concentration was 0.65 mg •L¯¹, the activity was at the highest level.
CONCLUSION: MLCK expressed in rabbit liver may catalyze the phosphorylation of myosin light chain, which may play important roles in the regulation of hepatic cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui Province, China
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