Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 2, 196-200,
February 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Implantation and pregnancy |
Expression and modulation of Rho kinase in human pregnant myometrium
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Ireland Galway, Clinical Science Institute, University College Hospital, Newcastle Road, Galway and 2 National Diagnostics Centre, BioResearch Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
There is little information outlining the role of Rho kinase, RhoA, and calcium sensitization in regulation of human uterine contractility during pregnancy. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of RhoA, and the Rho kinases ROCK I and ROCK II in human pregnant myometrium, to evaluate the effects of Rho kinase inhibition on pregnant human myometrial contractility in vitro, and to compare these effects with those of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. RT–PCR using primers for RhoA, ROCK I and ROCK II was performed on mRNA isolated from human pregnant myometrium. Isometric recording was performed in isolated myometrial strips obtained at Caesarean section. The effects of the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (1 nmol/l to 10 mmol/l), and nifedipine (1 nmol/l to 10 mmol/l), on oxytocin (0.5 nmol/l) induced contractions were measured and compared. Expression of RhoA, ROCK I and ROCK II mRNA was identified in human pregnant myometrium (n = 3). Y-27632 exerted a potent relaxant effect on myometrial contractility with a pD2 value (± SEM) of 7.63 ± 0.38 (n = 6). The maximum net relaxant effect (± SEM) was 72.3 ± 6.1% (n = 6). Corresponding values for nifedipine were 7.24 ± 0.48 (n = 6; P = 0.469) and 93.40 ± 3.1% (n = 6; P = 0.028). Rho A/Rho kinase-mediated calcium sensitization may play role in the physiology of human parturition, and pharmacological inhibition of this pathway may therefore provide a novel approach to tocolysis for pre-term labour.
human myometrium/preterm labour/Rho kinase/tocolysis
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: john.morrison{at}nuigalway.ie
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J Lartey and A Lopez Bernal RHO protein regulation of contraction in the human uterus Reproduction, September 1, 2009; 138(3): 407 - 424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. P Fischer, J. A Hutchinson, D. Farrar, P. J O'Donovan, D. F Woodward, and K. M Marshall Loss of prostaglandin F2{alpha}, but not thromboxane, responsiveness in pregnant human myometrium during labour J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 197(1): 171 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. M. Friel, P. G. Hynes, D. J. Sexton, T. J. Smith, and J. J. Morrison Expression Levels of mRNA for Rho A/Rho Kinase and Its Role in Isoprostane-Induced Vasoconstriction of Human Placental and Maternal Vessels Reproductive Sciences, February 1, 2008; 15(2): 179 - 188. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Lartey, M. Smith, J. Pawade, B. Strachan, H. Mellor, and A. L. Bernal Up-Regulation of Myometrial RHO Effector Proteins (PKN1 and DIAPH1) and CPI-17 (PPP1R14A) Phosphorylation in Human Pregnancy Is Associated with Increased GTP-RHOA in Spontaneous Preterm Labor Biol Reprod, June 1, 2007; 76(6): 971 - 982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Kawamata, Y. Tonomura, T. Kimura, Y. Sugimoto, T. Yanagisawa, and K. Nishimori Oxytocin-induced phasic and tonic contractions are modulated by the contractile machinery rather than the quantity of oxytocin receptor Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2007; 292(4): E992 - E999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Shimizu, M. Tahara, S. Ogata, K. Hashimoto, K. Morishige, K. Tasaka, and Y. Murata Involvement of nuclear factor-kB activation through RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in LPS-induced IL-8 production in human cervical stromal cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 13(3): 181 - 187*. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Smith Parturition N. Engl. J. Med., January 18, 2007; 356(3): 271 - 283. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M Friel, D. J Sexton, M. W O'Reilly, T. J Smith, and J. J Morrison Rho A/Rho kinase: human umbilical artery mRNA expression in normal and pre eclamptic pregnancies and functional role in isoprostane-induced vasoconstriction Reproduction, July 1, 2006; 132(1): 169 - 176. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Friel, M. Curley, N. Ravikumar, T. J. Smith, and J. J. Morrison Rho A/Rho Kinase mRNA and Protein Levels in Human Myometrium During Pregnancy and Labor Reproductive Sciences, January 1, 2005; 12(1): 20 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Karteris, E. W. Hillhouse, and D. Grammatopoulos Urocortin II Is Expressed in Human Pregnant Myometrial Cells and Regulates Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation: Potential Role of the Type-2 Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor in the Control of Myometrial Contractility Endocrinology, February 1, 2004; 145(2): 890 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C Cario-Toumaniantz, G Reillaudoux, V Sauzeau, F Heutte, N Vaillant, M Finet, P Chardin, G Loirand, and P Pacaud Modulation of RhoA--Rho kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of rabbit myometrium during pregnancy -- role of Rnd3 J. Physiol., October 15, 2003; 552(2): 403 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Wrayzx, K. Jones, S. Kupittayanant, Y. Li, A. Matthew, E. Monir-Bishty, K. Noble, S. J. Pierce, S. Quenby, and A. V. Shmygol Calcium Signaling and Uterine Contractility Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2003; 10(5): 252 - 264. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|