Abnormal uterine activity in pregnancy causes a range of important clinical disorders, including preterm birth, dysfunctional labour and post-partum haemorrhage. Uterine contractile patterns are controlled by the generation of complex electrical signals at the myometrial smooth muscle plasma membrane. To identify novel targets to treat conditions associated with uterine dysfunction, we undertoo...

Oviposition in birds is conducted by vigorous contractions of the uterine oviduct. We recently isolated an oviposition-inducing peptide that was identified as avian galanin from mature quail oviducts. This peptide was localized in neuronal fibers terminating in muscle layers in the uterine oviduct and evoked vigorous uterine contractions through binding to receptors located in the uterus. Howev...

S100 proteins belong to the EF-hand Ca(2+ )-binding protein family and regulate a variety of cellular processes via interaction with different target proteins. Several diseases, including cancer and melanoma, are related to the abnormal expression of S100 proteins, which are expressed in cell- and tissue-specific manners. We investigated the expression of S100 family members in human uterine sm...

During pregnancy, the muscular layer of the uterine wall known as the myometrium, which is composed mainly of smooth muscle cells, is maintained in a state of relative quiescence. A switch from myometrial quiescence to myometrial activation is required to establish uterine contractions during labor. Researchers have long been perplexed by the fact that the major prostaglandin produced by the ut...

● Smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the uterus. The majority of the uterine SMTs are readily classificable as benign or malignant based on their gross and microscopic appearances. However, when unusual features are seen in some leiomyoma variants, the differential diagnosis with a leiomyosarcoma may become challenging. Moreover, diagnostic criteria for the ...

The distribution of calsequestrin and calreticulin in smooth muscle and non-muscle tissues was investigated. Immunoblots of endoplasmic reticulum proteins probed with anti-calreticulin and anti-calsequestrin antibodies revealed that only calreticulin is present in the rat liver endoplasmic reticulum. Membrane fractions isolated from uterine smooth muscle, which are enriched in sarcoplasmic reti...

BACKGROUND Atypical uterine leiomyomas show benign behavior. However, the distinction between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas may at times be problematic. We report a rare case of atypical uterine leiomyoma. We try to investigate potential immunohistochemical parameters that could be essential to distinguish cases of malignant smooth muscle tumors and those of uncertain or borderline histology. ...

The spectrum of uterine smooth muscle cell tumours (SMT) ranges from leiomyomas to leiomyosarcomas (LMS). Atypical (AL) are a SMT contentious nature due its indeterminate malignant potential. Although the risk recurrence is low there limited experience on management. On other hand, it generally believed that LMS arises de novo, rather than precursor lesion.

BACKGROUND This study examined the effect of kaempferol on uterine fibroids in vitro and the underlying mechanism, and investigated the potential of kaempferol as a clinical drug for the treatment of uterine fibroids. MATERIAL AND METHODS Uterine fibroid tissue and surrounding smooth muscle tissue were collected for primary culture. Different concentrations of kaempferol (12 μM, 24 μM, and 48 μ...