Authors: Farinaz Arbab¹; Jennifer Goldsby²; Nena Matijevic-Aleksic³; Gangxiong Huang³; Ke-He Ruan³; Jaou-Chen Huang²

Source: Human Reproduction, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2002 , pp. 3053-3059(7)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It was recently discovered that prostacyclin constituted 40–50% of prostaglandins (PG) produced by minced human oviduct. It is well established that prostacyclin relaxes vascular smooth muscle, but whether oviductal smooth muscle synthesizes prostacyclin and whether its contraction is affected by prostacyclin remain unclear. METHODS: Smooth muscle microdissected from human oviducts was used for the study. The expression of prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) and prostacyclin receptor (IP) was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Metabolites of [³H]PGH<inf>2</inf> were analysed for prostacyclin. Functional coupling of IP to adenyl cyclase was assessed by the accumulation of intracellular cAMP upon prostacyclin challenge. The presence of saturable, specific binding sites for prostacyclin was confirmed by binding assay. The identity of IP was further confirmed by RT–PCR and nucleotide sequence analysis. Finally, the effects of prostacyclin on muscle contraction were studied. RESULTS: Human oviductal smooth muscle expresses functionally active PGIS and IP. The IP expressed is the same as that cloned from human lung tissue. The ED<inf>50</inf> of prostacyclin to increase intracellular cAMP was 16 nmol/l. Prostacyclin dose-dependently decreased the amplitude of muscle contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Human oviductal smooth muscle produces prostacyclin, which, in turn, decreases its contractility. Prostacyclin may regulate embryo transport.

Keywords: cAMP; embryo transport; prostacyclin receptor; prostaglandins

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, 2: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 3: Vascular Biology Center Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

Publication date: 2002-12-01

More about this publication?

• Human Reproduction features full-length, peer-reviewed papers reporting original research, clinical case histories, as well as opinions and debates on topical issues. Papers published cover the scientific and medical aspects of reproductive physiology and pathology, endocrinology, andrology, gonad function, gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy, genetics, genetic diagnosis, oncology, infectious disease, surgery, contraception, infertility treatment, psychology, ethics and social issues. The highest scientific and editorial standard is maintained throughout the journal along with a rapid rate of publication.

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