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Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on February 15, 2006
Molecular Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/molehr/gah248
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received November 16, 2005
Accepted November 21, 2005

Article

Examining the spatio-temporal expression of mRNA encoding the membrane-bound progesterone receptor-alpha isoform in human cervix and myometrium during pregnancy and labour

Neil R. Chapman 1 * *, Mairead M. Kennelly 2 *, Kelly A. Harper 2, G. Nicholas Europe-Finner 2, and Stephen C. Robson 2

1 School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, UK
2 School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Neil R. Chapman, E-mail: n.r.chapman{at}sheffield.ac.uk


  Abstract

Human parturition is associated with a modification in the sensitivity of the myometrium to progesterone. The molecular basis for this change, however, remains unclear. It is well documented that progesterone can exert its effects through non-genomic mechanisms, including acting through membrane-bound progesterone receptors (mPRs). Recently, a novel membrane-bound PR, termed mPR{alpha}, was cloned. mPR{alpha} was unlike any other PR in the databases, but it was seen to have significant homology to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In this study, we examined the spatio-temporal expression of mPR{alpha} mRNA in human cervix and both lower and upper myometrial segments from non-pregnant (NP), pregnant (P) and spontaneously labouring (SL) women. We observed an incremental increase in mPR{alpha} mRNA expression in NP and P samples with the peak level being observed in SL tissues. No major differences were observed between upper or lower pregnant myometrial regions. Interestingly, levels of mPR{alpha} transcripts were substantially greater in labouring lower segment myometrium compared with labouring upper segment. Significantly, we failed to detect mPR{alpha} message in either unripe or ripe human cervices. These data suggest that mPR{alpha} protein function may play a role in regulating lower segment myometrial activity during labour. Whether it functions in the cervix, however, remains unclear.

Keywords: cervix/labour/myometrium/preterm/progesterone.

*The authors contributed equally to this work


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