Role of protein kinase Calpha in regulation of [Ca2+](I) and force in human myometrium.
Recent findings implicate protein kinase C in regulation of contraction of uterine muscle (myometrium). However, the role of protein kinase C isoforms in myometrial contraction remains uncertain. Therefore, this study examined protein kinase Calpha's role in regulation of contraction and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+](I)) of myometrium from term pregnant women. The authors demonstrated that protein kinase Calpha inhibitor Go6976 decreased the amplitude of potassium chloride-induced myometrial contractions in a time-dependent manner. The treatment of the myometrial strips with protein kinase Calpha-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides decreased the potassium chloride-induced contraction and [Ca2+](I) response to 39.3% + 6.8% and 50.0% + 3.3%, respectively, compared to control. The sense oligonucleotides treatment did not significantly change the potassium chloride responses (89.8% + 6.8% and 93.9% + 4.5% of the control for the contraction and [Ca2+](I), respectively). These data, coupled with the observation that protein kinase Calpha levels are elevated in the pregnant myometrium, suggest the involvement of protein kinase Calpha in regulation of human uterine contraction.
Fomin
Victor P
VP
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA. vfomin@udel.edu
Kronbergs
Andris
A
Gunst
Susan
S
Tang
Dale
D
Simirskii
Vladimir
V
Hoffman
Matthew
M
Duncan
Randall L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D007527:Isoenzymes; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D002118:Calcium