Oxytocin and vasopressin 1a receptor gene expression in the cycling or pregnant human uterus.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to compare concentrations of messenger ribonucleic acid specific for the oxytocin receptor and for the vasopressin 1a receptor in myometrial and endometrial tissues of pregnant and nonpregnant women.


METHODS
Tissues from pregnant uteri were obtained from 95 women who were undergoing cesarean delivery between 26 and 42 weeks' gestation. Tissues from nonpregnant uteri were obtained from 7 cycling women who were undergoing hysterectomy. The competitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction method was used to determine messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations.


RESULTS
A significant increase in oxytocin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid was found during the first half of pregnancy. Oxytocin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations were lower in tissues with spontaneous contractions than in quiescent tissues and were decreased in patients with advanced labor. Vasopressin 1a receptor messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations were high in tissues from both cycling and pregnant uteri but remained unchanged throughout gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in oxytocin receptor protein concentrations seen in pregnancy is only partially controlled by messenger ribonucleic acid abundance. High concentrations of vasopressin 1a receptor messenger ribonucleic acid confirm the biologically active role of this receptor in both the cycling and the pregnant uterus.
Helmer
H
H
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Computer Sciences, General Hospital, University of Vienna, Austria.
Hackl
T
T
Schneeberger
C
C
Knöfler
M
M
Behrens
O
O
Kaider
A
A
Husslein
P
P
D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin