Reproductive sciences
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Reproductive sciences · Jan 2010
The effect of oxytocin and an oxytocin antagonist on the human myometrial proteome.
The immediate effects of oxytocin on myometrial signal transduction have been described. However, the longer term effects (up to an hour) on the myometrial proteome have not. We combined in vitro contractility with proteomic analysis to determine the protein changes associated with oxytocin-induced myometrial activity. ⋯ This study demonstrates that oxytocin has longer term (1 hour) effects on the myometrial proteome.
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Reproductive sciences · Oct 2009
Case Reports Comparative StudyDecreased nephrin and GLEPP-1, but increased VEGF, Flt-1, and nitrotyrosine, expressions in kidney tissue sections from women with preeclampsia.
Renal injury is a common pathophysiological feature in women with preeclampsia as evidenced by increased protein leakage (proteinuria) and glomerular injury (glomerular endotheliosis). Recently, podocyturia was found in preeclampsia, suggesting podocyte shedding occurs in this pregnancy disorder. However, podocyte function in preeclampsia is poorly understood. ⋯ Kidney tissue sections from nonhypertensive and chronic hypertensive participants were stained as controls. The findings were (1) nephrin and GLEPP-1 were mainly expressed in glomerular podocytes; (2) ezrin was expressed in both glomerular podocytes and tubular epithelial cells; (3) compared to tissue sections from nonhypertensive and chronic hypertensive participants, nephrin and GLEPP-1 expressions were much reduced in tissue sections from preeclampsia and ezrin expression was reduced in podocytes; (4) enhanced VEGF, Flt-1, and nitrotyrosine, but reduced CuZn-SOD, expressions were observed in both glomerular podocytes and endothelial cells in tissue sections from preeclampsia; and (5) the expression pattern for nephrin, GLEPP-1, ezrin, VEGF, Flt-1, and CuZn-SOD were similar between tissue sections from nonhypertensive and chronic hypertensive participants. Although the authors could not conclude from this biopsy study whether the podocyte injury is the cause or effect of the preeclampsia phenotype, the data provide compelling evidence that podocyte injury accompanied by altered angiogenesis process and increased oxidative stress occurs in kidney of patients with preeclampsia.
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Reproductive sciences · Jun 2009
Comparative StudyEwing's sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) differentiation in endometrial serous carcinomas.
The association of Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor and endometrioid type endometrial carcinoma has been reported relatively recently. We have recently identified Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor differentiation in uterine serous carcinomas and undertook this study to evaluate the frequency of both serous and endometrioid carcinomas expressing Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor differentiation. Seventy cases of uterine serous carcinoma were retrieved from the archival files and stained with antibodies to CD99. ⋯ Perinuclear dot-like and/or membranous staining was regarded as positive. The frequency of Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor differentiation in 56 FIGO grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas was also determined and 7% uterine serous and 12.5% of FIGO grade 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinomas showed Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor differentiation. Given the worse prognosis associated with Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor differentiation, even in neoplasms already at high risk for recurrence and metastasis, a high index of suspicion for Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor should be maintained in high-grade uterine serous carcinomas.
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Reproductive sciences · May 2009
Comparative StudyOxytocin pretreatment decreases oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions in pregnant rats in a concentration-dependent but not time-dependent manner.
Recent biomolecular studies have shown that continuous exposure of human myometrial cells to oxytocin results in a significant loss of responsiveness to subsequent oxytocin stimulation, perhaps because of desensitization of the oxytocin receptors. However, it is unclear whether this phenomenon results in a reduction of the contractile activity of the uterine muscle in humans or animals. The objective of our study was to investigate the in vitro response of the uterine muscle of pregnant rats to oxytocin, following preexposure to varying concentrations of oxytocin, for varying durations. ⋯ The area under the curve, frequency, and amplitude of the oxytocin-induced contractions were all significantly suppressed in the groups preexposed to oxytocin 10(-8) mol/L compared to either the control groups (P < .0001) or the groups preexposed to oxytocin 10(-10) mol/L (P < .0001). There was no difference in the oxytocin-induced myometrial contractions between the groups preexposed to oxytocin for either the 1- or 4-hour periods. The inhibition of the oxytocin-induced contractile response of pregnant rat myometrium is observed as early as 1 hour of preexposure to oxytocin and is dependent on the preexposed oxytocin concentration and not on the duration of its exposure.