Biol Reprod Lalor Postdoctoral Fellowships -- Application Deadline January 15, 2009
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

BOR - Papers in Press, published online ahead of print January 5, 2005.
Biol Reprod 2005, 10.1095/biolreprod.104.035626
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
72/5/1114    most recent
biolreprod.104.035626v1
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 PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Williams, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by MacPhee, D. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Williams, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by MacPhee, D. J.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Williams, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by MacPhee, D. J.
Submitted August 30, 2004
Returned for revision September 22, 2004
Accepted December 23, 2004

Pregnancy


Expression of {alpha}5 Integrin Is Elevated in the Rat Myometrium During Late Pregnancy and Labor: Implications for Development of a Mechanical Syncytium

S. J. Williams , B. G. White , and D. J. MacPhee *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dmacphee{at}mun.ca.

Abstract
The underlying mechanisms controlling uterine contractions during labour are still poorly understood. Integrins are heterodimeric, transmembrane receptors composed of {alpha} and {beta} subunits that can be found in focal adhesions. Since these structures play an important role in the regulation of smooth muscle contractility and cell adhesion, we hypothesized that {alpha}5 integrin mRNA (Itga5) and protein (ITGA5) expression would be induced in the rat myometrium during late pregnancy and labour. Itga5 mRNA expression was significantly increased (p<0.05) from day(d) 17 - labour, noticeably decreasing 1 day post -partum (PP). Immunoblot analysis illustrated a continual increase in ITGA5 levels during pregnancy, labour and PP with levels reaching significance at labour (p<0.05). Analysis of ITGA5 expression by immunocytochemistry demonstrated that it is primarily localized to myometrial cell membranes in the longitudinal muscle layer of the myometrium on non-pregnant-d6 and in both the longitudinal and circular muscle layers on d15 - PP. Treatment of late pregnant rats with progesterone blocked labour and resulted in sustained expression of Itga5 mRNA expression to d24. In addition, immunocytochemistry experiments showed ITGA5 was detectable at higher levels in cell membranes of both myometrial layers in progesterone-treated animals on d23 and d24, compared to vehicle controls. We propose that ITGA5, with its sole known partner ITGB1, may be important during late pregnancy in promoting cellular cohesion. This process may aid the development of a mechanical syncytium for efficient force transduction during the sustained, coordinated and powerful contractions of labour.

Key words: Female Reproductive Tract • Pregnancy • Parturition • Uterus


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
O. Shynlova, S. J. Williams, H. Draper, B. G White, D. J MacPhee, and S. J Lye
Uterine Stretch Regulates Temporal and Spatial Expression of Fibronectin Protein and Its Alpha 5 Integrin Receptor in Myometrium of Unilaterally Pregnant Rats
Biol Reprod, November 1, 2007; 77(5): 880 - 888.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
O. Shynlova, P. Tsui, A. Dorogin, B L. Langille, and S. J Lye
The expression of transforming growth factor {beta} in pregnant rat myometrium is hormone and stretch dependent
Reproduction, September 1, 2007; 134(3): 503 - 511.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Hum ReprodHome page
M. O'Brien, D. O'Shaughnessy, E. Ahamide, J. J. Morrison, and T. J. Smith
Differential expression of the metalloproteinase MMP3 and the {alpha}5 integrin subunit in human myometrium at labour
Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 13(9): 655 - 661.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
B E Cross, H M O'Dea, and D J MacPhee
Expression of small heat shock-related protein 20 (HSP20) in rat myometrium is markedly decreased during late pregnancy and labour
Reproduction, April 1, 2007; 133(4): 807 - 817.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
O. Shynlova, P. Tsui, A. Dorogin, B. L. Langille, and S. J. Lye
Insulin-like Growth Factors and Their Binding Proteins Define Specific Phases of Myometrial Differentiation During Pregnancy in the Rat
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2007; 76(4): 571 - 578.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
M. Breuiller-Fouche and G. Germain
Gene and protein expression in the myometrium in pregnancy and labor.
Reproduction, May 1, 2006; 131(5): 837 - 850.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
P.A. Elustondo, G.E. Hannigan, I. Caniggia, and D.J. MacPhee
Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) Is Highly Expressed in First Trimester Human Chorionic Villi and Regulates Migration of a Human Cytotrophoblast-Derived Cell Line
Biol Reprod, May 1, 2006; 74(5): 959 - 968.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
O. Shynlova, P. Tsui, A. Dorogin, M. Chow, and S. J. Lye
Expression and Localization of Alpha-Smooth Muscle and Gamma-Actins in the Pregnant Rat Myometrium
Biol Reprod, October 1, 2005; 73(4): 773 - 780.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Copyright © 2005 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.