title: The effect of progesterone on gelatinase expression in the decidua and fetal membranes before and after contractions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to explore the effect of progesterone on gelatinase expression in the decidua and fetal membranes before and after contractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Zymography was conducted for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine MMP2 transcripts, and the effect of progesterone on MMP2 promoter activity was determined with the use of luciferase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progesterone decreased pro-MMP2 secretion, expression, and promoter activity in decidua before contractions began. The effect of progesterone was reversed completely by mifepristone (RU486). Progesterone failed to inhibit MMP2 expression in the amnion and chorion before contractions began. After contractions, progesterone failed to inhibit MMP2 expression in both the decidua and fetal membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP2 expression is inhibited by progesterone only in the decidua and only before contractions begin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Research in Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shalev
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002823:Chorion / Q000201:enzymology; D003656:Decidua / Q000201:enzymology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone; D008156:Luciferases; D018093:Gelatinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9