Stereology of human myometrium in pregnancy: influence of maternal body mass index and age

Sweeney, Eva; Crankshaw, Denis; O’Brien, Yvonne M.; Dockery, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.01.019

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…No information on the myometrial composition in regards to triglyceride, protein or citrate synthase content has been reported in any of these previous studies (Sweeney et al . , ). To our knowledge, there are no studies reporting such measurement in the myometrium at term in obese women and studies modelling obesity during pregnancy in rats convey rather conflicting findings (Elmes et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dysregulation of the expression of potassium channels important for onset of labour has also been demonstrated in obese women (Parkington et al 2014). Finally obesity does not seem to have an impact on the proportion of smooth muscle cell and extracellular matrix in the human myometrium at term either (Sweeney et al 2013(Sweeney et al , 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Finally obesity does not seem to have an impact on the proportion of smooth muscle cell and extracellular matrix in the human myometrium at term either (Sweeney et al . , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Unchanged mitochondrial phenotype, but accumulation of lipids in the myometrium in obese pregnant women

Gam

Larsen

Mortensen

et al. 2017

The Journal of Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Obesity is known to increase the risk of labour dystocia and insufficient energy supply, due to reduced mitochondrial capacity or quantity, could be a possible mechanism leading to reduced efficiency of uterine contractility during labour. In the present study of 36 women having an elective Caesarean section at term, obesity did not change mitochondrial phenotype in the myometrial myocyte obtained from uterine biopsies taken at delivery. Respiration rates in isolated mitochondria were unaffected by obesity. No indication of reduced content, investigated by quantification of the complexes of the respiratory chain, or altered regulation, examined by myometrial mRNA levels of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and inflammation, was detected. Yet we found increased myometrial triglyceride content in the obese group (2.39 ± 0.26 vs. 1.56 ± 0.20 mm, P = 0.024), while protein content and citrate synthase activity per gram wet weight myometrium were significantly lower in the obese (109.2 ± 7.2 vs. 139.4 ± 5.6 mg g , P = 0.002, and 24.8 ± 1.0 vs. 29.6 ± 1.4 U g wet wt, P = 0.008, respectively). These differences were substantiated by our histological findings where staining for nuclei, cytoplasm, glycogen and collagen supported the idea of a smaller muscle content in the myometrium in obese women. In conclusion no indication of myometrial mitochondrial dysfunction in the isolated state was found, but the observed increase of lipid content might play a role in the pathophysiological mechanisms behind labour dystocia in obese women.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Unchanged mitochondrial phenotype, but accumulation of lipids in the myometrium in obese pregnant women

Gam

Larsen

Mortensen

et al. 2017

The Journal of Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In pregnant tissues, we found large intrapatient variation, and no decrease in spontaneous activity until around age 40 years. It has recently been shown that there is no difference in the relative proportions of smooth muscle or matrix of the pregnant myometrium with advancing maternal age (Sweeney et al 2013).…”

Section: Figure 2 Proposed Schematic Diagram To Show How Lactate Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has recently been shown that there is no difference in the relative proportions of smooth muscle or matrix of the pregnant myometrium with advancing maternal age (Sweeney et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Myometrial physiology – time to translate?

Arrowsmith

Kendrick

Hanley

et al. 2014

Experimental Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To provide an overview of the current understanding of myometrial contractility and give examples of where this has or is close to being applied clinically. r What advances does it highlight?Examples of where myometrial science has been translated into clinical practice/patient benefit are discussed, as well as including suggestions of how it can be advanced.In this short review, we discuss how recent insights into myometrial physiology may be taken forward and translated into much-needed novel therapies for problems associated with labour. We consider excitation-contraction coupling in the myometrium and how this relates to our understanding of the changes that occur to produce myometrial contractions and successful labour. We then discuss how this information has already been used in the development of drugs to either stimulate or relax the myometrium, to address the needs of women with either slow (dystocic) labours or threatened preterm labours, respectively. We next present the data showing how basic physiological findings pertaining to hypoxia and lactate production have been taken and translated into a tool for predicting and thus better managing difficult labours. We then highlight examples of where physiological research has started to provide mechanistic insight into clinical problems associated with labour and parturition (obesity, diabetes, advanced maternal age, postdate and twin pregnancies) and suggest how these findings could be translated into new therapies for difficult labours.

show abstract