Collagenolytic Activity and Steroid Levels After Administration of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Mochizuki, Matsuto; Honda, Tomohiko; Tojo, Shimpei

doi:10.1002/j.1879-3479.1978.tb00437.x

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Numerous human and animal studies have explored the role of androgens in the cervix, particularly during pregnancy (Mochizuki et al , 1978a, b; Sasaki et al , 1982; Mochizuki and Maruo, 1985; Takahashi et al , 1984; Sakyo et al , 1986, 1987; Yamashita et al , 1991; El Maradny et al , 1996; Kanayama et al , 1998; Ji et al , 2008). These studies formed the basis of a hypothesis, whereby androgens regulate cervical remodelling, particularly CR at term.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgens in pregnancy: roles in parturition

Makieva

Saunders

Norman

2014

Human Reproduction Update

179

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUNDUnderstanding the physiology of pregnancy enables effective management of pregnancy complications that could otherwise be life threatening for both mother and fetus. A functional uterus (i) retains the fetus in utero during pregnancy without initiating stretch-induced contractions and (ii) is able to dilate the cervix and contract the myometrium at term to deliver the fetus. The onset of labour is associated with successful cervical remodelling and contraction of myometrium, arising from concomitant activation of uterine immune and endocrine systems. A large body of evidence suggests that actions of local steroid hormones may drive changes occurring in the uterine microenvironment at term. Although there have been a number of studies considering the potential role(s) played by progesterone and estrogen at the time of parturition, the bio-availability and effects of androgens during pregnancy have received less scrutiny. The aim of this review is to highlight potential roles of androgens in the biology of pregnancy and parturition.METHODSA review of published literature was performed to address (i) androgen concentrations, including biosynthesis and clearance, in maternal and fetal compartments throughout gestation, (ii) associations of androgen concentrations with adverse pregnancy outcomes, (iii) the role of androgens in the physiology of cervical remodelling and finally (iv) the role of androgens in the physiology of myometrial function including any impact on contractility.RESULTSSome, but not all, androgens increase throughout gestation in maternal circulation. The effects of this increase are not fully understood; however, evidence suggests that increased androgens might regulate key processes during pregnancy and parturition. For example, androgens are believed to be critical for cervical remodelling at term, in particular cervical ripening, via regulation of cervical collagen fibril organization. Additionally, a number of studies highlight potential roles for androgens in myometrial relaxation via non-genomic, AR-independent pathways critical for the pregnancy reaching term. Understanding of the molecular events leading to myometrial relaxation is an important step towards development of novel targeted tocolytic drugs.CONCLUSIONSThe increase in androgen levels throughout gestation is likely to be important for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and initiation of parturition. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms of androgen action on cervical remodelling and myometrial contractility is needed. The insights gained may facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches to manage pregnancy complications such as preterm birth.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgens in pregnancy: roles in parturition

Makieva

Saunders

Norman

2014

Human Reproduction Update

179

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is unclear if metabolism of ECM is regulated hormonally in neonatal rodents because the neonatal ovary is endocrinologically inactive (Csernus, 1986) and because maternal estrogen present at birth is probably bound to alpha-fetoprotein (Henry and Miller, 1986;Raynaud, 1973). In mature uteri, ECM proteins are regulated directly or indirectly by ovarian hormones (Salvador and Tsai, 1973;Woessner, 1969;Jeffrey and Koob, 1973;Jeffrey et al, 1975;Komm et al, 1987;Kao et al, 1964Kao et al, ,1969Dyer et al, 1980;Mandell and Sodek, 1982;Munakata et al, 1984Munakata et al, ,1985Mochizuki and Tojo, 1978;Ozasa et al, 1981;Sakyo et al, 1986). In this regard estrogens have been shown to increase collagen content in the uterus (Komm et al, 1987;Kao et al, 1964Kao et al, , 1969Dyer et al, 1980), and progesterone regulates uterine collagenase activity IGreas, 1976;Jeffrey et al, 1975).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Histologic, morphometric, and immunocytochemical analysis of myometrial development in rats and mice: I. Normal development

Brody¹,

Cunha²

1989

Am. J. Anat.

139

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Myometrial development from the prenatal to adult period was examined in rats and mice 1) by histologic and immunocytochemical methods with anti-actin, -vimentin, and -laminin to assess cytodifferentiation of smooth muscle and fibroblastic cells; and 2) by morphometric procedures to assess quantitatively the expression of cellular orientation in the emerging inner circular myometrial layer. Uterine mesenchymal cells initially were uniformly vimentin-positive, undifferentiated, and randomly oriented during the late fetal period. By the early neonatal period, three mesenchymal layers became recognizable histologically, the middle one of which (prospective circular myometrium) developed distinct circular orientation and differentiated into a layer composed of actin-positive smooth muscle cells. The cells of the inner mesenchymal layer initially exhibited radial orientation. By 10 days postpartum, the outer longitudinal mesenchymal layer differentiated into bundles of smooth muscle cells representing the longitudinal myometrium. The inner mesenchymal layer remained vimentin-positive and differentiated into the randomly ordered endometrial stroma. The cells of the middle and outer mesenchymal layers that were destined to form myometrium initially expressed vimentin throughout and then coexpressed vimentin and actin, but with time vimentin staining disappeared in the maturing smooth muscle cells as they expressed actin.

show abstract

“…Mandell and Sodek, 1982;Munakata et al, 1984Munakata et al, ,1985Mochizuki and Tojo, 1978;Ozasa et al, 1981;Sakyo et al, 1986). Estrogens increase collagen content in the uterus (Komm et al, 1987;Kao et al, 1964Kao et al, ,1969Dyer et al, 1980), and progesterone regulates uterine collagenase activity and thus uterine collagen content (Gross, 1976;Jeffrey et al, 1975).…”

Section: Des Dosage (Pg)mentioning

confidence: 93%

Histologic, morphometric, and immunocytochemical analysis of myometrial development in rats and mice: II. Effects of DES on development

Brody

Cunha

1989

Am. J. Anat.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES) treatment on myometrial development from the prenatal to adult period were examined in rats and mice by histologic and immunocytochemical methods using anti-actin, -vimentin, and -laminin to assess cytodifferentiation of smooth muscle and fibroblastic cells, and by morphometric procedures to assess quantitatively the effect of DES on the expression of cellular orientation in the emerging inner circular myometrial layer. Neonatal rats and mice were treated with DES from day 0 (day of birth) to day 2 with dosages known to perturb myometrial development. Neonatal treatment with DES increased the degree of circular orientation within the uterine mesenchyme, an effect detectable following as little as 24 hr of DES treatment. This effect on spatial organization of the mesenchyme was followed by an increase in the thickness of the actin-positive middle layer (prospective circular myometrium) of uterine mesenchyme during days 3-15; from day 15 onward, however, the circular myometrial layer began to fragment into irregular bundles of smooth muscle, and the longitudinal myometrial layer became thinner and more irregularly organized than controls. Vimentin localization in rats treated with DES neonatally was more intense than in controls within the circularly orientated uterine mesenchyme at 5 days. By 60 days the circular and longitudinal myometrial layers of DES-treated animals showed strands and bundles of vimentin-positive cells, which were not present in controls. Both rats and mice show comparable effects of DES treatment.

show abstract

Collagenolytic Activity and Steroid Levels After Administration of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Androgens in pregnancy: roles in parturition

Androgens in pregnancy: roles in parturition

Histologic, morphometric, and immunocytochemical analysis of myometrial development in rats and mice: I. Normal development

Histologic, morphometric, and immunocytochemical analysis of myometrial development in rats and mice: II. Effects of DES on development

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About