Skip Navigation


Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on September 30, 2005
Molecular Human Reproduction 2005 11(9):659-665; doi:10.1093/molehr/gah229
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
11/9/659    most recent
gah229v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Takemura, M.
Right arrow Articles by Fujii, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Takemura, M.
Right arrow Articles by Fujii, S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Published by Oxford University Press [2005] on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Cyclic mechanical stretch augments hyaluronan production in cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast cells

Maki Takemura1, Hiroaki Itoh1,5, Norimasa Sagawa2, Shigeo Yura1, Daizo Korita1, Kazuyo Kakui1, Makoto Kawamura1, Naoyoshi Hirota3, Hiroshi Maeda4 and Shingo Fujii1

1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Edobasi, Tsu, Mie, Research & 3Development Division (NH), Nippon Organon KK, Dohjima, Kita-ku, Osaka, 4Seikagaku Corporation and Central Research Laboratories, Tateno 3-chome, Higashiyamato, Tokyo, Japan

5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. E-mail: ihiroaki{at}kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Hyaluronan (HA) a glycosaminoglycan with high affinity for water molecules stimulates local inflammatory reactions. Parturition causes a dramatic increase in the amount of HA fragments in the uterine cervix, thereby contributing to a rapid softening as well as opening of the cervical canal, i.e. cervical ripening. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of cyclic distension caused by labour in the augmentation of HA production during cervical ripening. Immunohistochemistry and/or RT–PCR detected hyaluronan synthase (HAS)1, 2 and 3 in samples of human cervical tissue obtained from pregnant women. Labour-like cyclic mechanical stretch for 24, 36 and 48 h significantly enhanced the secretion of HA, from cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast (CxF) cells, 128.7, 151.4 and 173.2%, respectively, concomitant with a significant augmentation of HAS1 (36, 48 h), HAS2 (24, 36 and 48 h) and HAS3 (48 h) mRNA expression. Cyclic mechanical stretch for 12, 36 and 48 h increased molecular size of the HA secreted from CxF cells. In conclusion, cyclic mechanical stretch of the uterine cervix caused by the presenting part of the fetus in labour may contribute to the increase in the secretion of HA during the process of cervical ripening.

Key words: cervical ripening/hyaluronan synthase/hyaluronan/mechanical stretch/uterine cervix


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
K. R. Ingram, A. K. T. Wann, C. K. Angel, P. J. Coleman, and J. R. Levick
Cyclic movement stimulates hyaluronan secretion into the synovial cavity of rabbit joints
J. Physiol., March 15, 2008; 586(6): 1715 - 1729.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.