title: A short review of adipokines, smooth muscle and uterine contractility.
abstract: Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in both developed and developing countries. In the UK, for example, 60% of adults are overweight and 25% are obese. Obesity is associated with many pathological complications including respiratory, cardiovascular and endocrine, but it also affects fertility and is associated with many reproductive complications. This has led us and others to investigate links between women with high BMI, pregnancy outcome and uterine function. These studies in turn have led investigators to ask how obesity can have such an impact on reproduction and, as part of this, to consider the role of the adipokines released from adipose tissues. Our focus in this short review is on adipokines and myometrial activity, and for completeness we overview their effects on other smooth muscles. To date four adipokines (leptin, visfatin, apelin and ghrelin) have been investigated and all affect myometrial contractility, but some more potently than others. We consider the possible mechanisms involved in how adipokines may modify uterine contractility, and discuss the potential impact on labor and delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. Electronic address: drseham@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Seham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: AlSaif
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mumtaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wray
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines
keywords: Adipokine; Dyslipidaemia; Maternal obesity; Myometrium; Smooth muscle