Document Detail


The effects of pregnancy and estrogen on the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the uterine cervix, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  14612187     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Before parturition the uterine cervix undergoes a ripening process ("softens" and dilates) to allow passage of the fetus at term. The exact mechanism(s) responsible for cervical ripening are unknown, though a role for peptidergic sensory neurons is emerging. Previous work demonstrated that administration of substance P (SP) to ovariectomized rats caused events associated with cervical ripening, that production of SP in cervix-related dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is estrogen responsive, and that release of SP from neurons terminating in the cervix and spinal cord peaks prior to parturition. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide co-stored with SP in many sensory neurons, undergoes changes with pregnancy and hormonal environment. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) were used to investigate CGRP in L6-S1 DRG, spinal cord and cervix during pregnancy and the role of estrogen in CGRP synthesis. CGRP-immunoreactive primary sensory neurons expressed estrogen receptors (ER-alpha and ER-beta). In the cervix, CGRP concentrations decreased, but in the L6-S1 DRG and the spinal cord segments, CGRP levels increased, with peak effects observed at day 20 of gestation. CGRP mRNA synthesis increased in DRG over pregnancy. Sensory neurons of ovariectomized rats treated with estrogen showed increased CGRP mRNA synthesis in a dose-related manner, an effect blocked by the ER antagonist ICI 182 780. From these results, we postulate that synthesis of CGRP in L6-S1 DRG and utilization in the cervix increase over pregnancy and this synthesis is the under influence of the estrogen-ER system. Collectively, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that CGRP plays a role in cervical ripening and, consequently in the birth process.
Authors:
C N Mowa; S Usip; J Collins; M Storey-Workley; K M Hargreaves; R E Papka
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Peptides     Volume:  24     ISSN:  0196-9781     ISO Abbreviation:  Peptides     Publication Date:  2003 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2003-11-12     Completed Date:  2004-08-26     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8008690     Medline TA:  Peptides     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1163-74     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, College of Medicine, P.O. Box 95, 4209 State Rt. 44, Rootstown, OH 44272 , USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / analysis,  biosynthesis,  genetics*
Cervix Uteri / physiology*
Estrogens / physiology*
Female
Ganglia, Spinal / physiology*
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Pregnancy
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Radioimmunoassay
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
DE 12888/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS; NS22526/NS/NINDS NIH HHS; NS33081/NS/NINDS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Estrogens; 0/RNA, Messenger; 83652-28-2/Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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