Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 9, No. 12, pp. 807-813, 2003
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2003; all rights reserved
Collagen remodelling in the guinea-pig uterine cervix at term is associated with a decrease in progesterone receptor expression
Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Tumores Hormonodependientes, School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Casilla de Correo 242, (3000) Santa Fe, Argentina
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: eluque{at}fbcb.unl.edu.ar
In human and guinea-pig parturition, progesterone withdrawal and estrogen action are not mediated by changes in their circulating levels. Instead, these events might be promoted by changes in the responsiveness of the uterus and cervix to progesterone and estrogen via changes in their receptors. In this study, the guinea-pig model was used to investigate whether high levels of progesterone and estrogen at term are associated with regional changes in PR and ER
levels in uterus and cervix. PR and ER profiles were established in both subepithelium and the muscular layer of the cervix and the lower uterine horns during pregnancy, parturition and postpartum; while collagen remodelling was measured in the subepithelium. Our data showed that collagen remodelling involved in cervical ripening is temporally and spatially associated with a decrease in PR, whereas high expression of ER is observed. This association was found in the subepithelium of the cervical tissue but not in the same region of the uterus. The muscular region of the cervix and uterus also present a transiently decreased expression of PR while ER levels remain high. Thus, the present results indicate that, before parturition, diminished responsiveness of the cervix to progesterone might be caused by a decrease in PR levels and that this may be the mechanism of functional progesterone withdrawal. The guinea-pig was further validated as an animal model for human parturition studies.
Key words: cervix/estrogen receptor /parturition uterus/progesteron receptor
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