title: Enhanced myometrial autophagy in postpartum uterine involution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the mechanisms of postpartum uterine involution, we investigated the uterine myometrial changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine groups of uterine myometrial samples from mice (n = 4) were collected on gestational Day 0 (nonpregnant), Day 1, Day 2, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 and on postpartum Day 1, Day 2, and Day 7. Human samples of uterine myometrium on term (n = 1) and postpartum Day 1 (n = 2) were also collected. Ki-67 immunostaining was used to determine myometrial proliferation. For cell hypertrophy analysis, organelle proteins, β-actin, prohibin, calnexin, and golgin-97 were analyzed by Western blotting. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and evaluation of activated caspase-3 expression by Western blot analysis assay were used to detect apoptosis. Autophagy was assayed via the evaluation of LC3 expression by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and autophagosomes by electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uterine myocytes proliferated during the early stage of gestation with a peak at Day 2, whereas myocyte hypertrophy with increased cellular organelle production occurred gradually in later stages of pregnancy. Postpartum autophagy developed abruptly in uterine myocytes without obvious apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autophagy of myocytes may play an important role in uterine involution. These results have implications for our understanding of myometrial functional adaptations during pregnancy and the physiological role of autophagy in the uterine remodeling events in the postpartum period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Keng-Fu
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-An
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Oral Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsc.gyn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Soon-Cen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001343:Autophagy; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D037281:Calnexin / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D000077614:Golgi Matrix Proteins; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001324:Autoantigens; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D037281:Calnexin; D000077614:Golgi Matrix Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000096985:Calponins; C450721:Golgi complex autoantigen, 97-kDa
keywords: autophagy; hypertrophy; myometrium; pregnancy