title: Reduced nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase activity in the uterus of non-obese diabetic mice.
abstract: A functional interaction between progesterone, Th2 cytokines and a suitable balance between nitric oxide and prostaglandins in the uterus is considered to have a major role in the success of embryo implantation and pregnancy. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice offer a suitable model to study the modulatory role of Th1 cytokines on uterus signalling and function, since at the prediabetic stage they develop a spontaneous Th1 autoimmune response against exocrine glands similar to Sjögren's syndrome. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a vasoactive neuro- and immunopeptide that promotes Th2 profiles and contributes to the smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the activities of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase and the effect of VIP in the uterus of NOD mice with an emerging Th1 cytokine response. We present evidence of a reduced basal and VIP-stimulated activity of both enzymes in the uterus of NOD mice compared with normal BALB/c mice in proestrus. An altered functional interaction between both enzymes is also present in NOD mice at the time when increased levels of serum interleukin (IL)-12 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha but not interferon (IFN)-gamma or IL-10 were detected. We conclude that signalling alterations in uteri of NOD mice are simultaneous to the onset of a systemic Th1 cytokine response.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larocca
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aisemberg
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meiss
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Claudia Pérez
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Leirós
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000201:enzymology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D023421:Models, Animal; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007213:Indomethacin