Infusion of oxytocin induces successful delivery in prostanoid FP-receptor-deficient mice

Masaki Kawamata, Masahide Yoshida, Yukihiko Sugimoto, Tadashi Kimura, Yutaka Tonomura, Yuki Takayanagi, Teruyuki Yanagisawa, Katsuhiko Nishimori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The dramatic increase of oxytocin (OT) receptor (OTR) in the myometrium as well as circulating progesterone withdrawal has been thought to be the most important factor in the induction and accomplishment of parturition since delivery fails in prostaglandin F receptor (FP) knockout (FP KO) mice. The expression levels of OTR mRNA/protein were not dramatically increased in the near-term uteri of FP KO mice. However, OT-induced myometrial contractions and the concentration-response curves in FP KO in vitro were almost similar to those in wild-type (WT) mice. OT-infusion (0.3 U/day) enabled FP KO mice to experience successful delivery, and furthermore the duration until the onset was hastened by a higher dose of OT (3 U/day). The plasma progesterone levels of FP KO females were maintained at high levels, but decreased during labor by OT-infusion (3 U/day). These results suggest that OT has potentials to induce strong myometrial contractions in uterus with low expression levels of OTR and luteolysis in ovary, which enabled FP KO females to undergo successful delivery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)32-37
Number of pages6
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume283
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Feb 13
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • FP
  • Knockout mice
  • Oxytocin
  • Oxytocin receptor
  • Parturition
  • Uterus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

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