| Project/Area Number |
12671575
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Obstetrics and gynecology
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| Research Institution | YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
TEZUKA Naohiro YAMAGATA UNIV. SCHOOL OF MEDI. ASSISTANT PROF., 医学部, 講師 (60261690)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2000 – 2001
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000)
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| Keywords | Myometrium / Ion channel / Molecular physiology |
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| Research Abstract |
L-type voltage-dependent Ca^<2+> channel (VDCC) plays an important role for excitation-contraction coupling in uterine smooth muscle. In this study we compared dynamics of VDCC expression in pregnant rat myometrium between two groups at a middle stage and at a late stage of gestation by employing molecular physiological methods. Consequently, amplified products were expressed 1.5 - 1.7 times more in the group at the late stage of pregnancy than that at the middle stage when a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used. In electrophysiological experiments with translation system of Xenopus laevis oocyte, the group at the late stage of gestation showed 3.3 times greater reaction. Namely, it was found that both L-type VDCC mRNA and VDCC currents were expressed strongly during late stage of pregnancy. This study shows a part of molecular mechanisms by which parturition occurs with enhancing uterine contractile activity via synthesis of L-type VDCC protein. Although factors that convert a quiescent period of uterine smooth muscle during pregnancy to an active stage at parturition have not been clarified, these findings can be a new clue to the study of resolving the factors.
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