title: Corticotropin-releasing hormone effects on human pregnant vs. nonpregnant myometrium explants estimated from a mathematical model of uterine contraction.
abstract: In this paper, we applied a new theoretical model of uterine contraction to a large panel of human pregnant and nonpregnant myometrial strips, treated or not by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). This model is based on a fine analysis of the contraction curves. This analysis yielded four mathematical parameters (beta, theta, tau 1, and tau 2) related to excitability, duration of plateau phase, and time constants for relaxation describing, respectively, the different portions of the contraction cycle. This leads to specific differences in spontaneous contractile activity between pregnant and nonpregnant states. The relaxing effect of CRH in the pregnant state is presumably correlated with the origin of the strips (the lower uterine segment). Besides our observation of a specific receptor-dependent relaxing effect of CRH in both pregnant and nonpregnant myometrium, we could identify highly significant effects at given CRH concentration for beta in nonpregnant myometrium and for theta, tau 1, and tau 2 in pregnant myometrium. In addition, highly significant differences were found between pregnant and nonpregnant myometrium. Also, we discovered a strong correlation between theta and tau 1, specifically in the pregnant state. Although the biochemical signification of these results remains to be elucidated, they contribute to emphasize the complex network of CRH action at the myometrial level. Furthermore, our approach could pave the way toward a better analysis of the efficacy of the uterine contractile behavior.
authors.affiliation: Génétique et Epigénétique des Pathologies Placentaires INSERM U. 709, IFR Alfred Jost, Université René Descartes Paris V, Pavillon Baudelocque, 123 Boulevard de Port-Royal 75014, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Thérèse-Marie
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mignot
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carbonne
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vauge
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaiman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone