Preterm labour: tsunami waves?
Preterm labour and birth can be delayed but are generally unstoppable, threatening the health of the mother-baby duo. This may be a result of peripheral signals prematurely recruiting the oxytocin neurones that co-ordinate the timing of birth and, via specialised activity and secretion patterns, drive uterine contractions. Once sensitised, these neurones respond with waves of activity, even to weak stimuli, resulting in a positive-feedback loop that escalates towards inevitable birth.
Douglas
Alison J
AJ
Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D036801:Parturition / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D010121:Oxytocin