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Characterization of the tissue-level Ca2+signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium
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Bru-Mercier, Gilles , Gullam, Joanna E., Thornton, Steven, Blanks, Andrew M. and Shmygol, Anatoly (2012) Characterization of the tissue-level Ca2+signals in spontaneously contracting human myometrium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Vol.16 (No.12). pp. 2990-3000. doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01626.x ISSN 1582-1838.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01626.x
Abstract
In the labouring uterus, millions of myocytes forming the complex geometrical structure of myometrium contract in synchrony to increase intrauterine pressure, dilate the cervix and eventually expel the foetus through the birth canal. The mechanisms underlying the precise coordination of contractions in human myometrium are not completely understood. In the present study, we have characterized the spatio-temporal properties of tissue-level [Ca2+]i transients in thin slices of intact human myometrium. We found that the waveform of [Ca2+]i transients and isotonic contractions recorded from thin slices was similar to the waveform of isometric contractions recorded from the larger strips in traditional organ bath experiments, suggesting that the spatio-temporal information obtained from thin slices is representative of the whole tissue. By comparing the time course of [Ca2+]i transients in individual cells to that recorded from the bundles of myocytes we found that the majority of myocytes produce rapidly propagating long-lasting [Ca2+]i transients accompanied by contractions. We also found a small number of cells showing desynchronized [Ca2+]i oscillations that did not trigger contractions. The [Ca2+]i oscillations in these cells were insensitive to nifedipine, but readily inhibited by the T-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor NNC55-0396. In conclusion, our data suggest that the spread of [Ca2+]i signals in human myometrium is achieved via propagation of long-lasting action potentials. The propagation was fast when action potentials propagated along bundles of myocytes and slower when propagating between the bundles of uterine myocytes.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine > Reproductive Health ( - until July 2016) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Myometrium, Calcium -- Physiological effect, Uterus -- Contraction, Calcium -- Antagonists | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine | ||||
Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc | ||||
ISSN: | 1582-1838 | ||||
Official Date: | 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Vol.16 | ||||
Number: | No.12 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 2990-3000 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01626.x | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 23 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 23 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Great Britain) (BBSRC), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | ||||
Grant number: | BB/D016630/1 (BBSRC) |
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