Structural and functional studies of gap junctions in human myometrium.
Gap junctions are of importance in the coordinated contraction of uterine smooth muscle during labor. There are indications that in the human myometrium, gap junctions are much more numerous in the period immediately surrounding parturition. The presence and the functional state of gap junctions in human myometrium was studied by electron microscopical morphometry and by studying the distribution of an injected fluorescent dye. Electron microscopy showed that the number and size of gap junctions was significantly higher during the active phase of labor than during the pre-labor phase. Pressure injection of Lucifer Yellow into myometrial cells in vitro showed only weak coupling in the pre-labor stage. These data support the notion that coupling between myometrial cells develops in immediate association with parturition.
Department of Human Anatomy, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
G M
GM
Roomans
W M
WM
Kilarski
N
N
Ciray
B E
BE
Persson
T
T
Bäckström
U
U
Ulmsten
D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007546:Isoquinolines; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; C017475:lucifer yellow